Apply Personality And Role Theories - Licensed Master Social Worker LMSW

  1. Which object relations concept describes internalized mental representations of self and others?
    Internal objects (internalized object relations). These mental structures, formed from early interactions, shape perceptions and expectations in relationships.
  2. What is fixation in Freud's psychosexual theory?
    Persistent focus at a developmental stage due to unresolved conflict. Unresolved issues halt progression, causing overinvestment in a stage's pleasures or conflicts in adulthood.
  3. What is the main function of the superego in psychodynamic theory?
    Internalized morals and ideals; guilt and shame regulation. The superego develops from parental and societal influences to enforce ethical standards and manage self-criticism.
  4. Which psychodynamic construct mediates between id impulses and superego demands?
    Ego. In Freud's structural model, this component balances instinctual desires with moral constraints to navigate reality effectively.
  5. Which Erikson stage centers on developing trust through consistent caregiving in infancy?
    Trust vs. mistrust. Erikson's first stage emphasizes building basic trust through reliable care, or mistrust from inconsistency.
  6. Which defense mechanism involves redirecting feelings from a threatening target to a safer one?
    Displacement. This defense redirects emotions from a dangerous object to a less threatening substitute to preserve safety.
  7. What is countertransference in psychodynamic practice?
    Clinician's emotional reactions to the client based on clinician history. Countertransference arises from the therapist's unresolved personal issues, influencing their responses to the client.
  8. Which defense mechanism involves channeling unacceptable impulses into acceptable activities?
    Sublimation. This adaptive mechanism transforms socially unacceptable drives into productive, culturally valued behaviors.
  9. Which defense mechanism involves refusing to acknowledge an external reality or feeling?
    Denial. This primitive defense avoids anxiety by rejecting painful truths that threaten psychological equilibrium.
  10. What is the primary operating principle of the id in Freud's structural model?
    Pleasure principle. This principle drives the id to seek immediate gratification of basic urges without regard for consequences or reality.
  11. Identify the role theory term for incompatible demands between two roles (for example, worker and parent).
    Role conflict. This occurs when obligations from multiple social positions create competing expectations and stress.
  12. Which defense mechanism involves unconsciously blocking unacceptable thoughts from awareness?
    Repression. This unconscious process expels threatening ideas from consciousness to maintain psychic stability.
  13. What is transference in psychodynamic practice?
    Client projects past relationship feelings onto the clinician. Transference occurs when unresolved emotions from prior attachments are unconsciously redirected toward the therapist.
  14. Which defense mechanism involves separating affect from an idea or event to reduce distress?
    Intellectualization. By focusing on abstract logic, this mechanism detaches emotions from traumatic events to minimize distress.
  15. What is the primary operating principle of the ego in Freud's structural model?
    Reality principle. This principle guides the ego to delay gratification and consider real-world constraints for adaptive functioning.
  16. Identify the role theory term for strain from excessive demands within a single role.
    Role overload. Excessive responsibilities within one role exceed capacity, causing burnout and reduced efficacy.
  17. Which defense mechanism involves justifying behavior with plausible but false explanations?
    Rationalization. This mechanism reduces cognitive dissonance by creating logical excuses for irrational or unacceptable actions.
  18. Identify the role theory term for unclear expectations and responsibilities within a role.
    Role ambiguity. Lack of clarity in role definitions leads to uncertainty, anxiety, and ineffective performance.
  19. Which Erikson stage is the primary psychosocial task of adolescence?
    Identity vs. role confusion. In adolescence, individuals integrate self-concepts or face confusion about identity and social roles.
  20. Which option best fits role strain: conflict between worker and parent, or stress from too many job tasks?
    Stress from too many job tasks. Role strain involves internal pressures within a single role, unlike role conflict which spans multiple roles.
  21. Which immediate clinical focus best fits psychodynamic practice: changing thoughts, or exploring patterns in relationships?
    Exploring patterns in relationships. Psychodynamic therapy prioritizes uncovering unconscious relational dynamics over cognitive restructuring techniques.
  22. What is the key idea of attachment theory regarding early caregiver relationships?
    Early bonds form internal working models guiding later relationships. Bowlby's theory posits that secure attachments create templates for emotional security and relational patterns.
  23. Which defense mechanism involves attributing one's unacceptable feelings to another person?
    Projection. This mechanism protects the ego by externalizing internal conflicts onto others to avoid self-awareness of flaws.
  24. Which defense mechanism involves expressing an impulse by adopting its opposite attitude?
    Reaction formation. To defend against anxiety, this mechanism converts forbidden impulses into exaggerated opposing behaviors.
  25. Which defense mechanism involves returning to earlier behaviors under stress?
    Regression. Under stress, individuals revert to immature coping strategies from earlier developmental stages for comfort.

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