MSW Exam (questions with correct
answers) A+ updated
A system is a whole comprising component parts that work together. Applied to social work,
systems theory views human behavior through larger contexts, such as members of families,
communities, and broader society. Important to this theory is the concept that when one thing
changes within a system, the whole system is affected. Systems tend toward equilibrium and
can have closed or open boundaries.
Apgar PhD LSW ACSW, Dr. Dawn (2015-05-11). Social Work ASWB Masters Exam Guide: A
Comprehensive Study Guide for Success (p. 43). Springer Publishing Company. Kindle Edition. -
correct answer ✔✔Systems Theory
1. Social workers need to understand interactions between the micro, mesa, and macro levels.
2. Problems at one part of a system may be manifested at another.
3. Ecomaps and genograms can help to understand system dynamics.
4. Understanding "person-in-environment" is essential to identifying barriers or opportunities
for change.
5. Problems and change are viewed within larger contexts.
Apgar PhD LSW ACSW, Dr. Dawn (2015-05-11). Social Work ASWB Masters Exam Guide: A
Comprehensive Study Guide for Success (pp. 43-44). Springer Publishing Company. Kindle
Edition. - correct answer ✔✔Systems Theory Applications to Social Work
Closed system- uses up its energy and dies
Differentiation- becoming specialized in structure and function
Entropy- closed, disorganized, stagnant; using up available energy
Equifinality- arriving at the same end from different beginnings
,homeostasis steady state
Input- obtaining resources from the environment that are necessary to attain the goals of the
system
Negative entropy- exchange of energy and resources between systems that promote growth
and transformation
Open system a system with cross-boundary exchange
Output- product of the system that exports to the environment
Subsystem- a major component of a system made up of two or more interdependent
components that interact in order to attain their own purpose( s) and the purpose( s) of the
system in which they are embedded
Suprasystem- an entity that is served by a number of component systems organized in
interacting relationships throughput energy that - correct answer ✔✔Some System Theory
Terms
1) Differentiation of Self
2) Triangles
3) Nuclear Family Emotional Process
4) Family Projection Process
5) Emotional Cutoff
6) Multigenerational Transmission Process
7) Sibling Position
8) Societal Emotional Process. - correct answer ✔✔The eight interlocking concepts of Bowen
Theory include:
Family theory provides a theoretical and therapeutic base for dealing with family-related
situations; it is also useful in understanding and managing individual problems by determining
the extent to which such problems are related to family issues. A family systems approach
argues that in order to understand a family system, a social worker must look at the family as a
whole, rather than focusing on its members. People do not exist in a vacuum. They live, play, go
to school, and work with other people. Most anthropologists agree that, next to their peculiar
,tendency to think and use tools, one of the distinguishing characteristics of human beings is
that they are social creatures. The social group that seems to be most universal and pervasive in
the way it shapes human behavior is the family. For social workers, the growing awareness of
the crucial impact of families on clients has led to the development of family sy - correct answer
✔✔FAMILY THEORIES
1. Each family is more than a sum of its members.
2. Each family is unique, due to the infinite variations in personal characteristics and cultural
and ideological styles.
3. A healthy family has flexibility, consistent structure, and effective exchange of information.
4. The family is an interactional system whose component parts have constantly shifting
boundaries and varying degrees of resistance to change.
5. Families must fulfill a variety of functions for each member, both collectively and individually,
if each member is to grow and develop.
6. Families strive for a sense of balance or homeostasis.
7. Negative feedback loops are those patterns of interaction that maintain stability or constancy
while minimizing change. Negative feedback loops help to maintain homeostasis. Positive
feedback loops, in contrast, are patterns of interaction that facilitate change or movement
toward either growth or dissolution - correct answer ✔✔The family systems approach is based
on several basic assumptions:
-Establishing a contract with the family
-Examining alliances within the family
-Identifying where power resides
-Determining the relationship of each family member to the problem
-Seeing how the family relates to the outside world
-Assessing influence of family history on current family interactions
-Ascertaining communication patterns
-Identifying family rules that regulate patterns of interaction
-Determining meaning of presenting symptom in maintaining family homeostasis
, -Examining flexibility of structure and accessibility of alternative action patterns
-Finding out about sources of external stress and support The following are some types of
family therapy.
Apgar PhD LSW ACSW, Dr. Dawn (2015-05-11). Social Work ASWB Masters Exam Guide: A
Comprehensive Study Guide for Success (p. 46). Springer Publishing Company. Kindle Edition. -
correct answer ✔✔The family systems Key clinical issues include:
1. Preaffiliation— development of trust (known as forming)
2. Power and control— struggles for individual autonomy and group identification (known as
storming)
3. Intimacy— utilizing self in service of the group (known as norming)
4. Differentiation— acceptance of each other as distinct individuals (known as performing)
5. Separation/ termination— independence (known as adjourning)
Apgar PhD LSW ACSW, Dr. Dawn (2015-05-11). Social Work ASWB Masters Exam Guide: A
Comprehensive Study Guide for Success (p. 50). Springer Publishing Company. Kindle Edition. -
correct answer ✔✔The stages of group development are:
Instillation of hope Universality Altruism Interpersonal learning Self-understanding and insight
Group size Homogeneity: similarity of group members Participation in goal and norm setting for
group Interdependence: dependent on one another for achievement of common goals Member
stability: frequent change in membership results in less cohesiveness Contraindications for
group: client who is in crisis; suicidal; compulsively needy for attention; actively psychotic; and/
or paranoid
answers) A+ updated
A system is a whole comprising component parts that work together. Applied to social work,
systems theory views human behavior through larger contexts, such as members of families,
communities, and broader society. Important to this theory is the concept that when one thing
changes within a system, the whole system is affected. Systems tend toward equilibrium and
can have closed or open boundaries.
Apgar PhD LSW ACSW, Dr. Dawn (2015-05-11). Social Work ASWB Masters Exam Guide: A
Comprehensive Study Guide for Success (p. 43). Springer Publishing Company. Kindle Edition. -
correct answer ✔✔Systems Theory
1. Social workers need to understand interactions between the micro, mesa, and macro levels.
2. Problems at one part of a system may be manifested at another.
3. Ecomaps and genograms can help to understand system dynamics.
4. Understanding "person-in-environment" is essential to identifying barriers or opportunities
for change.
5. Problems and change are viewed within larger contexts.
Apgar PhD LSW ACSW, Dr. Dawn (2015-05-11). Social Work ASWB Masters Exam Guide: A
Comprehensive Study Guide for Success (pp. 43-44). Springer Publishing Company. Kindle
Edition. - correct answer ✔✔Systems Theory Applications to Social Work
Closed system- uses up its energy and dies
Differentiation- becoming specialized in structure and function
Entropy- closed, disorganized, stagnant; using up available energy
Equifinality- arriving at the same end from different beginnings
,homeostasis steady state
Input- obtaining resources from the environment that are necessary to attain the goals of the
system
Negative entropy- exchange of energy and resources between systems that promote growth
and transformation
Open system a system with cross-boundary exchange
Output- product of the system that exports to the environment
Subsystem- a major component of a system made up of two or more interdependent
components that interact in order to attain their own purpose( s) and the purpose( s) of the
system in which they are embedded
Suprasystem- an entity that is served by a number of component systems organized in
interacting relationships throughput energy that - correct answer ✔✔Some System Theory
Terms
1) Differentiation of Self
2) Triangles
3) Nuclear Family Emotional Process
4) Family Projection Process
5) Emotional Cutoff
6) Multigenerational Transmission Process
7) Sibling Position
8) Societal Emotional Process. - correct answer ✔✔The eight interlocking concepts of Bowen
Theory include:
Family theory provides a theoretical and therapeutic base for dealing with family-related
situations; it is also useful in understanding and managing individual problems by determining
the extent to which such problems are related to family issues. A family systems approach
argues that in order to understand a family system, a social worker must look at the family as a
whole, rather than focusing on its members. People do not exist in a vacuum. They live, play, go
to school, and work with other people. Most anthropologists agree that, next to their peculiar
,tendency to think and use tools, one of the distinguishing characteristics of human beings is
that they are social creatures. The social group that seems to be most universal and pervasive in
the way it shapes human behavior is the family. For social workers, the growing awareness of
the crucial impact of families on clients has led to the development of family sy - correct answer
✔✔FAMILY THEORIES
1. Each family is more than a sum of its members.
2. Each family is unique, due to the infinite variations in personal characteristics and cultural
and ideological styles.
3. A healthy family has flexibility, consistent structure, and effective exchange of information.
4. The family is an interactional system whose component parts have constantly shifting
boundaries and varying degrees of resistance to change.
5. Families must fulfill a variety of functions for each member, both collectively and individually,
if each member is to grow and develop.
6. Families strive for a sense of balance or homeostasis.
7. Negative feedback loops are those patterns of interaction that maintain stability or constancy
while minimizing change. Negative feedback loops help to maintain homeostasis. Positive
feedback loops, in contrast, are patterns of interaction that facilitate change or movement
toward either growth or dissolution - correct answer ✔✔The family systems approach is based
on several basic assumptions:
-Establishing a contract with the family
-Examining alliances within the family
-Identifying where power resides
-Determining the relationship of each family member to the problem
-Seeing how the family relates to the outside world
-Assessing influence of family history on current family interactions
-Ascertaining communication patterns
-Identifying family rules that regulate patterns of interaction
-Determining meaning of presenting symptom in maintaining family homeostasis
, -Examining flexibility of structure and accessibility of alternative action patterns
-Finding out about sources of external stress and support The following are some types of
family therapy.
Apgar PhD LSW ACSW, Dr. Dawn (2015-05-11). Social Work ASWB Masters Exam Guide: A
Comprehensive Study Guide for Success (p. 46). Springer Publishing Company. Kindle Edition. -
correct answer ✔✔The family systems Key clinical issues include:
1. Preaffiliation— development of trust (known as forming)
2. Power and control— struggles for individual autonomy and group identification (known as
storming)
3. Intimacy— utilizing self in service of the group (known as norming)
4. Differentiation— acceptance of each other as distinct individuals (known as performing)
5. Separation/ termination— independence (known as adjourning)
Apgar PhD LSW ACSW, Dr. Dawn (2015-05-11). Social Work ASWB Masters Exam Guide: A
Comprehensive Study Guide for Success (p. 50). Springer Publishing Company. Kindle Edition. -
correct answer ✔✔The stages of group development are:
Instillation of hope Universality Altruism Interpersonal learning Self-understanding and insight
Group size Homogeneity: similarity of group members Participation in goal and norm setting for
group Interdependence: dependent on one another for achievement of common goals Member
stability: frequent change in membership results in less cohesiveness Contraindications for
group: client who is in crisis; suicidal; compulsively needy for attention; actively psychotic; and/
or paranoid
