IAAI CFI STUDY GUIDE UPDATED
ACTUAL EXAM PAPER 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ What are the basic human needs?
and how are they important to the instructor-student relationship?
Answer: *Physical*- can't concentrate
*Security*- can't concentrate
*Belonging*- out of normal surrounding, more need for
*Self-esteem*- results in self-confidence, ..., knowledge
*Cognitive*- control what is going on around them
*Aesthetic*- he or she simply likes it
*Self-actualization*- achieve potential greatest challenge
◉ What are defense mechanisms?
Answer: Subconscious ego-protecting reactions to unpleasant situations.
◉ What are the 8 common defense mechanisms that may apply to
students?
DR FDR CPR
Answer: *D*enial
*R*epression
,*F*antasy
*D*isplacement
*R*eaction Formation
*C*ompensation
*P*rojections
*R*ationalization
◉ Explain the defense mechanism of *Denial*
Answer: A refusal to accept external reality because it is too threatening.
Denial is the refusal to acknowledge what has happened, is happening,
or will happen.
◉ Explain the defense mechanism of *Repression*
Answer: A person places uncomfortable thoughts into inaccessible areas
of the unconscious mind.
◉ Explain the defense mechanism of *Fantasy*
Answer: A student engages in daydreaming about how things should be
rather than doing anything about how things are.
◉ Explain the defense mechanism of *Displacement*
Answer: An unconscious shift of emotion, affect, or desire from the
original object to a more acceptable, less-threatening substitute. Kicking
the dog or taking it out on a spouse.
, ◉ Explain the defense mechanism of *Reaction Formation*
Answer: Faking a belief opposite to the true belief opposite the true
belief because the true belief causes anxiety.
◉ Explain the defense mechanism of *Compensation*
Answer: Students often attempt to disguise the presence of a weak or
undesirable quality by emphasizing a more positive one.
◉ Explain the defense mechanism of *Projection*
Answer: Students may relegate the blame for their own short-comings
and mistakes to others or attribute their motives, desires, and
characteristics to others.
◉ Explain the defense mechanism of *Rationalization*
Answer: Justifying actions that otherwise would be unacceptable; the
substitution of excuses for reasons.
◉ What are the 3 basic elements of communication?
Answer: *Source*- speaker, writer, or instructor
*Symbols*- works or signs
*Receiver*- listener, reader, or student
◉ What are the three characteristics of receivers that instructors must
understand in order to effectively communicate with their students?
ACTUAL EXAM PAPER 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ What are the basic human needs?
and how are they important to the instructor-student relationship?
Answer: *Physical*- can't concentrate
*Security*- can't concentrate
*Belonging*- out of normal surrounding, more need for
*Self-esteem*- results in self-confidence, ..., knowledge
*Cognitive*- control what is going on around them
*Aesthetic*- he or she simply likes it
*Self-actualization*- achieve potential greatest challenge
◉ What are defense mechanisms?
Answer: Subconscious ego-protecting reactions to unpleasant situations.
◉ What are the 8 common defense mechanisms that may apply to
students?
DR FDR CPR
Answer: *D*enial
*R*epression
,*F*antasy
*D*isplacement
*R*eaction Formation
*C*ompensation
*P*rojections
*R*ationalization
◉ Explain the defense mechanism of *Denial*
Answer: A refusal to accept external reality because it is too threatening.
Denial is the refusal to acknowledge what has happened, is happening,
or will happen.
◉ Explain the defense mechanism of *Repression*
Answer: A person places uncomfortable thoughts into inaccessible areas
of the unconscious mind.
◉ Explain the defense mechanism of *Fantasy*
Answer: A student engages in daydreaming about how things should be
rather than doing anything about how things are.
◉ Explain the defense mechanism of *Displacement*
Answer: An unconscious shift of emotion, affect, or desire from the
original object to a more acceptable, less-threatening substitute. Kicking
the dog or taking it out on a spouse.
, ◉ Explain the defense mechanism of *Reaction Formation*
Answer: Faking a belief opposite to the true belief opposite the true
belief because the true belief causes anxiety.
◉ Explain the defense mechanism of *Compensation*
Answer: Students often attempt to disguise the presence of a weak or
undesirable quality by emphasizing a more positive one.
◉ Explain the defense mechanism of *Projection*
Answer: Students may relegate the blame for their own short-comings
and mistakes to others or attribute their motives, desires, and
characteristics to others.
◉ Explain the defense mechanism of *Rationalization*
Answer: Justifying actions that otherwise would be unacceptable; the
substitution of excuses for reasons.
◉ What are the 3 basic elements of communication?
Answer: *Source*- speaker, writer, or instructor
*Symbols*- works or signs
*Receiver*- listener, reader, or student
◉ What are the three characteristics of receivers that instructors must
understand in order to effectively communicate with their students?
