Key Social Work Terms – LCSW Exam Prep – essential vocabulary and concepts
for ASWB clinical exam
aberrant - correct answer ✔✔markedly different from an accepted norm; deviant, atypical or
nonconforming
abstinence - correct answer ✔✔practice of not doing something; often used to describe an
activity which may be enjoyable such as drinking alcohol or engaging in sexual activity
act of commission - correct answer ✔✔engaging in an act of malfeasance when knowing the
action or omission is illegal
act of omission - correct answer ✔✔failure to perform a legal duty; social work task that is not
done despite the need to do oso according to established standard of care
active listening - correct answer ✔✔technique that involves listening closely and asking
questioons as needed to fully understand latent and manifest communication, as well as feeling
associated with content of message; critical to client-centered therapy
acuity - correct answer ✔✔sharpness or ability, particularly of the mind, vision or hearing
acculturation - correct answer ✔✔process of individuals or groups acquiring or adopting the
cultural traits, practices, and values of another culture while maintaining their own cultural
identity; does not restrict need to change to those in minority
acute - correct answer ✔✔short or episodic; often characterized by high intensity and
unanticipated (sudden onset); not chronic
,ad hoc - correct answer ✔✔created or done for a particular needed purpose; occurs
temporarily to fulfill a given need
advance directive - correct answer ✔✔written statement of wishes regarding medical
treatmeent to ensure those wishes are honored in the event that they cannot bee
communicated to doctors; type of advance directives, include, but are not limited to, living wills,
medical powers of attorney, and resuscitate orders
age of consent - correct answer ✔✔legal age at which a minor can legally engage in behavior
without parental consent; varies by jurisdiction and type of activity; minors are granted right to
confidentiality if they are over the age of consent as they are regarded in the same manner as
adults
ageism - correct answer ✔✔stereotyping based on age; form of discrimination
amelioration - correct answer ✔✔aimed at improving or making better; lessoning of symptoms
or severity of disease, illness, or disorder; eradicating a social problem
antecedents - correct answer ✔✔things or events that existed before or logically precede
others often identified as causes of maladaptive behaviors
assent - correct answer ✔✔agreement or approval by someone not able to give legal consent
due to age or cognitive ability
assimiliation - correct answer ✔✔process of individuals or groups adopting to the dominant
cultural norms, practices, and values, often leading to the loss or suppression of their own
cultural identity
atropy - correct answer ✔✔decreasing in size and function; shrinkage of muscle or nerve tissue;
can be caused by aging, inactivity, malnutrition, and other injuries, illnesses and conditions
, aversion therapy - correct answer ✔✔behavior therapy designed too make clients give up
undesirable habits by causing them to associate these habits with unpleasant effects
bartering - correct answer ✔✔acceptance of services, goods, or other non-monetary payments
from clients in return for services; creates the potential for conflicts of interest exploitation, and
inappropriate boundaries in social workers' relationships with clients; only permissible in very
limited cultural contexts
baseline - correct answer ✔✔functioning before the intervention occurs; intervention is often
the service or treatment delivered by a social worker
beneficence - correct answer ✔✔to act for the benefit of others; moral obligation of helping
professions to do no harm and act in the best interest of others
benign - correct answer ✔✔not damaging or threatening to life; often used to describe growths
that are not cancerous
boundary violation - correct answer ✔✔harmful or potentially harmful deviation from
established professional standards dictated by professional relationships; often involves
exploitation
capacity building - correct answer ✔✔intervention aimed at enhancing the abilities or resources
of an individual, group, organization, or community
capitation - correct answer ✔✔payment structure used with insurance companies; provider or
facility is paid a fixed amount for each person; risk is taken by entity to deliver services under
cost of contract; incentive to provider or facility proomote wellness
for ASWB clinical exam
aberrant - correct answer ✔✔markedly different from an accepted norm; deviant, atypical or
nonconforming
abstinence - correct answer ✔✔practice of not doing something; often used to describe an
activity which may be enjoyable such as drinking alcohol or engaging in sexual activity
act of commission - correct answer ✔✔engaging in an act of malfeasance when knowing the
action or omission is illegal
act of omission - correct answer ✔✔failure to perform a legal duty; social work task that is not
done despite the need to do oso according to established standard of care
active listening - correct answer ✔✔technique that involves listening closely and asking
questioons as needed to fully understand latent and manifest communication, as well as feeling
associated with content of message; critical to client-centered therapy
acuity - correct answer ✔✔sharpness or ability, particularly of the mind, vision or hearing
acculturation - correct answer ✔✔process of individuals or groups acquiring or adopting the
cultural traits, practices, and values of another culture while maintaining their own cultural
identity; does not restrict need to change to those in minority
acute - correct answer ✔✔short or episodic; often characterized by high intensity and
unanticipated (sudden onset); not chronic
,ad hoc - correct answer ✔✔created or done for a particular needed purpose; occurs
temporarily to fulfill a given need
advance directive - correct answer ✔✔written statement of wishes regarding medical
treatmeent to ensure those wishes are honored in the event that they cannot bee
communicated to doctors; type of advance directives, include, but are not limited to, living wills,
medical powers of attorney, and resuscitate orders
age of consent - correct answer ✔✔legal age at which a minor can legally engage in behavior
without parental consent; varies by jurisdiction and type of activity; minors are granted right to
confidentiality if they are over the age of consent as they are regarded in the same manner as
adults
ageism - correct answer ✔✔stereotyping based on age; form of discrimination
amelioration - correct answer ✔✔aimed at improving or making better; lessoning of symptoms
or severity of disease, illness, or disorder; eradicating a social problem
antecedents - correct answer ✔✔things or events that existed before or logically precede
others often identified as causes of maladaptive behaviors
assent - correct answer ✔✔agreement or approval by someone not able to give legal consent
due to age or cognitive ability
assimiliation - correct answer ✔✔process of individuals or groups adopting to the dominant
cultural norms, practices, and values, often leading to the loss or suppression of their own
cultural identity
atropy - correct answer ✔✔decreasing in size and function; shrinkage of muscle or nerve tissue;
can be caused by aging, inactivity, malnutrition, and other injuries, illnesses and conditions
, aversion therapy - correct answer ✔✔behavior therapy designed too make clients give up
undesirable habits by causing them to associate these habits with unpleasant effects
bartering - correct answer ✔✔acceptance of services, goods, or other non-monetary payments
from clients in return for services; creates the potential for conflicts of interest exploitation, and
inappropriate boundaries in social workers' relationships with clients; only permissible in very
limited cultural contexts
baseline - correct answer ✔✔functioning before the intervention occurs; intervention is often
the service or treatment delivered by a social worker
beneficence - correct answer ✔✔to act for the benefit of others; moral obligation of helping
professions to do no harm and act in the best interest of others
benign - correct answer ✔✔not damaging or threatening to life; often used to describe growths
that are not cancerous
boundary violation - correct answer ✔✔harmful or potentially harmful deviation from
established professional standards dictated by professional relationships; often involves
exploitation
capacity building - correct answer ✔✔intervention aimed at enhancing the abilities or resources
of an individual, group, organization, or community
capitation - correct answer ✔✔payment structure used with insurance companies; provider or
facility is paid a fixed amount for each person; risk is taken by entity to deliver services under
cost of contract; incentive to provider or facility proomote wellness
