MSW ACTUAL EXAM PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED
A+
◍ biopsychosocial assessment.
Answer: The biopsychosocial assessment refers to a series of questions
asked at the beginning of treatment of an individual that obtain information
about the major physical (bio), psychological, and social issues of the
individual. This approach is called holistic because it posits that separate
issues are often related
◍ Piaget (Adaptations, Assimilation and Accommodation).
Answer: 0-1 Sensory-Motor2-4 Preoperational Period5-7 "8-12 Concrete
Operations period13-18 formal Operations period19-2121 +50 +
◍ Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.
Answer: Physiological (most basic), safety, love/belonging, Esteem,
self-actualization
◍ Freud (Libido).
Answer: 0-1 Oral2-4 Anal Oedipal/Phallic8-12 Latency13-18 Genital19-21
"21+ "50 + "
◍ Erickson (Stage conflict).
Answer: 0-1 Trust vs. Mistrust (stage #1)2-4 Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt
(stage #2)5-7 Initiative vs. Guilt (stage #3)8-12 Industry vs. Inferiority
(stage #4)13-18 Identity vs. Role Diffusion, confusion (stage #5)19-21
Intimacy Vs. Isolation (stage #6)21 + Generativity vs. Stagnation (stage
#7)50 + Integrity vs. Despair (stage #8)
◍ Trust vs. Mistrust (stage 1) 0-1.
Answer: During infancy (0-1) the child is dependent on mother for food and
, care. As the child incorporates or takes in through sucking and swallowing;
there is a receptivity to what is being offered. The mother is responsible for
coordinating the child's experience of getting and hers of giving. At the
latter part of this stage the child's eyes begin to focus and incorporation
becomes more active as the child bites to "hold onto" things. If the mother
provides a predictable environment in which the child's needs are met, a
sense of basic trust will develop. This sense of trust implies not only
sameness and continuity from the caretaker, but also self-trust in one's
capacity to cope with urges. According to Erickson, it is the quality rather
than the quantity of maternal care that is critical at this stage. Successful
resolution will lead to a lasting ego quality of hope, an enduring belief that
wishes can be fulfilled. Unsuccessful resolution will lead to a sense of
mistrust in other people and the environment.
◍ Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (stage 2) 2-3.
Answer: During early childhood (2-3) the child learns a sense of autonomy
through retention and elimination of urine and feces. As the child's muscles
mature to the point that bodily wastes can be retained or expelled at will, the
child experiments with two simultaneous social modalities "holding on" and
"letting go." Parents must be firm and tolerant so that the child can gradually
learn bowel and bladder control and a "sense of self-control without loss of
self esteem." From this emerges a sense of autonomy and pride, and the
lasting ego quality of WILL POWER, the determination to use free choice
and self-restraint. Unsuccessful resolution of this stage will lead to lifelong
feelings of shame and doubt.
◍ Initiative vs. Guilt (stage 3) 3-5.
Answer: During the play age (3-5), increased locomotor mastery (walking
and running) gives the child a wider radius of goals. In addition, language
skills add to the ability to imagine "so many things he cannot avoid
frightening himself with what he himself has created and thought up." The
Oedipal wishes and the ambivalent feelings that accompany them must be
repressed in order to temporarily mask the initiative toward the opposite sex
parent. While this initiative is a prerequisite for masculine and feminine
, behaviors later in life, it is now repressed of necessity-in order to avoid the
guilt that would accompany knowledge of incestuous thoughts. Parents
assist the child in learning appropriate roles, including gender roles, as the
child diverts the sexual drive into acceptable activities. At this point
conscience, or superego, becomes established to govern the initiative.
Proper resolution of this stage leads to a lasting ego quality of purpose, the
courage to pursue goals. Unsuccessful resolution leads to feeling of shame.
◍ Industry vs. Inferiority (stage 4) 6-12.
Answer: The child now enters the school age (6-12) and is enmeshed in the
"world" of school and opportunities for new types of mastery. As children
develop their abilities in new skills and tasks, they desire recognition gained
from producing things. Through this, they develop a sense of industry and a
lasting ego quality of competence. Unsuccessful resolution of this stage
leads to life long feelings of inferiority and inadequacy.
◍ Identity vs. Role Confusion (stage 5) 12-18.
Answer: As the child approaches adolescence (12-18 or so), physical and
hormonal changes mark the beginning of puberty. Rapid growth and
physical genital maturity disrupt the earlier continuity of childhood. This
stage is perhaps the most important for Erikson, as the adolescent must now
forge a lasting ego identity through aligning his or her basic dries,
endowments, and opportunities. A sense of ego identity is "the accrued
confidence that ones ability to maintain inner sameness and continuity...is
matched by the sameness and continuity of ones meaning for others. Thus,
self-esteem grows to be a conviction that one is learning effective steps
toward a tangible future, that one is developing a defined personality within
a social reality which one understands. As the adolescent struggles to
integrate past and future views of self and begins to define new appropriate
sex roles, an identity crisis may emerge from this confusion. New
expectations from parents may add to this stress. Tolerance, understanding,
and guidance in the home can assist the adolescent in achieving an
integrated identity. Unsuccessful resolution can result in either role
confusion or identity diffusion, a state in which the individual is left with
, strong doubts about who he or she "is." This may lead to delinquency,
psychotic incidents, or over-identification with others. Youths who emerge
with a strong sense of identity and individuality gain a lasting ego quality of
fidelity or freely pledges loyalties.
◍ Social Network Theory.
Answer: Study of how people, organizations or groups interact with others
inside their network
◍ Intimacy vs. Isolation (stage 6) (early to late 20s).
Answer: Young adulthood (early to late 20s) brings an end to the years of
childhood and youth. It is now time for choosing a career, socializing with
the opposite sex, and eventually marriage and raising a family. Interpersonal
intimacy is the task of this stage, encompassing both psychological and
sexual intimacy. Failure to achieve intimacy leads to isolation, an inability
to develop intimate and meaningful relationship. The person who cannot be
intimate will likely be self-absorbed. Proper resolution of this stage leads to
a lasting ego quality of love, or mutuality of devotion.
◍ Generativity vs. Stagnation (stage 7) (late 20s-50s).
Answer: During adulthood (last 20s-50s), maturity geniality (in the Freudian
sense) leads to procreation and establishing guidance for the next
generation. those who do not apply this to their own offspring must
sublimate and find outlets in altruistic activities. According to Erikson,
simply wanting or having children is insufficient for completion of this
stage. Rather, an active role and a "belief in the species" leads to efforts to
make the world a better place for future generations. Unsuccessful
resolution of this stage results in a sense of stagnation or self-indulgence
that reflection interpersonal impoverishment. Successful resolution of this
stage can be seen in the lasting ego quality of care, or concern for others.
◍ Integrity vs. Despair (after 50).
Answer: Late adulthood (after 50) is a period of retrospective reflection
about one's own life and acceptance of the eventual end of life. If, at the end
of the life cycle, one can accept responsibility for past choices and find
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED
A+
◍ biopsychosocial assessment.
Answer: The biopsychosocial assessment refers to a series of questions
asked at the beginning of treatment of an individual that obtain information
about the major physical (bio), psychological, and social issues of the
individual. This approach is called holistic because it posits that separate
issues are often related
◍ Piaget (Adaptations, Assimilation and Accommodation).
Answer: 0-1 Sensory-Motor2-4 Preoperational Period5-7 "8-12 Concrete
Operations period13-18 formal Operations period19-2121 +50 +
◍ Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.
Answer: Physiological (most basic), safety, love/belonging, Esteem,
self-actualization
◍ Freud (Libido).
Answer: 0-1 Oral2-4 Anal Oedipal/Phallic8-12 Latency13-18 Genital19-21
"21+ "50 + "
◍ Erickson (Stage conflict).
Answer: 0-1 Trust vs. Mistrust (stage #1)2-4 Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt
(stage #2)5-7 Initiative vs. Guilt (stage #3)8-12 Industry vs. Inferiority
(stage #4)13-18 Identity vs. Role Diffusion, confusion (stage #5)19-21
Intimacy Vs. Isolation (stage #6)21 + Generativity vs. Stagnation (stage
#7)50 + Integrity vs. Despair (stage #8)
◍ Trust vs. Mistrust (stage 1) 0-1.
Answer: During infancy (0-1) the child is dependent on mother for food and
, care. As the child incorporates or takes in through sucking and swallowing;
there is a receptivity to what is being offered. The mother is responsible for
coordinating the child's experience of getting and hers of giving. At the
latter part of this stage the child's eyes begin to focus and incorporation
becomes more active as the child bites to "hold onto" things. If the mother
provides a predictable environment in which the child's needs are met, a
sense of basic trust will develop. This sense of trust implies not only
sameness and continuity from the caretaker, but also self-trust in one's
capacity to cope with urges. According to Erickson, it is the quality rather
than the quantity of maternal care that is critical at this stage. Successful
resolution will lead to a lasting ego quality of hope, an enduring belief that
wishes can be fulfilled. Unsuccessful resolution will lead to a sense of
mistrust in other people and the environment.
◍ Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (stage 2) 2-3.
Answer: During early childhood (2-3) the child learns a sense of autonomy
through retention and elimination of urine and feces. As the child's muscles
mature to the point that bodily wastes can be retained or expelled at will, the
child experiments with two simultaneous social modalities "holding on" and
"letting go." Parents must be firm and tolerant so that the child can gradually
learn bowel and bladder control and a "sense of self-control without loss of
self esteem." From this emerges a sense of autonomy and pride, and the
lasting ego quality of WILL POWER, the determination to use free choice
and self-restraint. Unsuccessful resolution of this stage will lead to lifelong
feelings of shame and doubt.
◍ Initiative vs. Guilt (stage 3) 3-5.
Answer: During the play age (3-5), increased locomotor mastery (walking
and running) gives the child a wider radius of goals. In addition, language
skills add to the ability to imagine "so many things he cannot avoid
frightening himself with what he himself has created and thought up." The
Oedipal wishes and the ambivalent feelings that accompany them must be
repressed in order to temporarily mask the initiative toward the opposite sex
parent. While this initiative is a prerequisite for masculine and feminine
, behaviors later in life, it is now repressed of necessity-in order to avoid the
guilt that would accompany knowledge of incestuous thoughts. Parents
assist the child in learning appropriate roles, including gender roles, as the
child diverts the sexual drive into acceptable activities. At this point
conscience, or superego, becomes established to govern the initiative.
Proper resolution of this stage leads to a lasting ego quality of purpose, the
courage to pursue goals. Unsuccessful resolution leads to feeling of shame.
◍ Industry vs. Inferiority (stage 4) 6-12.
Answer: The child now enters the school age (6-12) and is enmeshed in the
"world" of school and opportunities for new types of mastery. As children
develop their abilities in new skills and tasks, they desire recognition gained
from producing things. Through this, they develop a sense of industry and a
lasting ego quality of competence. Unsuccessful resolution of this stage
leads to life long feelings of inferiority and inadequacy.
◍ Identity vs. Role Confusion (stage 5) 12-18.
Answer: As the child approaches adolescence (12-18 or so), physical and
hormonal changes mark the beginning of puberty. Rapid growth and
physical genital maturity disrupt the earlier continuity of childhood. This
stage is perhaps the most important for Erikson, as the adolescent must now
forge a lasting ego identity through aligning his or her basic dries,
endowments, and opportunities. A sense of ego identity is "the accrued
confidence that ones ability to maintain inner sameness and continuity...is
matched by the sameness and continuity of ones meaning for others. Thus,
self-esteem grows to be a conviction that one is learning effective steps
toward a tangible future, that one is developing a defined personality within
a social reality which one understands. As the adolescent struggles to
integrate past and future views of self and begins to define new appropriate
sex roles, an identity crisis may emerge from this confusion. New
expectations from parents may add to this stress. Tolerance, understanding,
and guidance in the home can assist the adolescent in achieving an
integrated identity. Unsuccessful resolution can result in either role
confusion or identity diffusion, a state in which the individual is left with
, strong doubts about who he or she "is." This may lead to delinquency,
psychotic incidents, or over-identification with others. Youths who emerge
with a strong sense of identity and individuality gain a lasting ego quality of
fidelity or freely pledges loyalties.
◍ Social Network Theory.
Answer: Study of how people, organizations or groups interact with others
inside their network
◍ Intimacy vs. Isolation (stage 6) (early to late 20s).
Answer: Young adulthood (early to late 20s) brings an end to the years of
childhood and youth. It is now time for choosing a career, socializing with
the opposite sex, and eventually marriage and raising a family. Interpersonal
intimacy is the task of this stage, encompassing both psychological and
sexual intimacy. Failure to achieve intimacy leads to isolation, an inability
to develop intimate and meaningful relationship. The person who cannot be
intimate will likely be self-absorbed. Proper resolution of this stage leads to
a lasting ego quality of love, or mutuality of devotion.
◍ Generativity vs. Stagnation (stage 7) (late 20s-50s).
Answer: During adulthood (last 20s-50s), maturity geniality (in the Freudian
sense) leads to procreation and establishing guidance for the next
generation. those who do not apply this to their own offspring must
sublimate and find outlets in altruistic activities. According to Erikson,
simply wanting or having children is insufficient for completion of this
stage. Rather, an active role and a "belief in the species" leads to efforts to
make the world a better place for future generations. Unsuccessful
resolution of this stage results in a sense of stagnation or self-indulgence
that reflection interpersonal impoverishment. Successful resolution of this
stage can be seen in the lasting ego quality of care, or concern for others.
◍ Integrity vs. Despair (after 50).
Answer: Late adulthood (after 50) is a period of retrospective reflection
about one's own life and acceptance of the eventual end of life. If, at the end
of the life cycle, one can accept responsibility for past choices and find
