LMSW Human Growth and Development Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A 4-year-old child is brought to a play therapy session. The social worker observes the child talking to a teddy bear, telling it that it must be sad because it was left alone. According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, this is an example of:
- Object permanence
- Egocentrism (Correct answer)
- Conservation
- Abstract reasoning
Correct answer: Egocentrism
Egocentrism, a hallmark of Piaget's preoperational stage (ages 2-7), is the child's inability to see a situation from another person's point of view. The child assumes that others (including inanimate objects) see, hear, and feel exactly the same as they do. In this scenario, the child is projecting their own feelings of sadness onto the teddy bear.
Question 2: A 16-year-old client is struggling with questions about their future career, personal values, and their place in society. They express feeling confused and unsure of who they are. According to Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, which central conflict is this client most likely experiencing?
- Intimacy vs. Isolation
- Trust vs. Mistrust
- Identity vs. Role Confusion (Correct answer)
- Industry vs. Inferiority
Correct answer: Identity vs. Role Confusion
Erikson's fifth stage, Identity vs. Role Confusion (typically ages 12-18), is characterized by the adolescent's struggle to develop a sense of self and personal identity. The client's confusion about their future, values, and place in the world directly reflects the central crisis of this stage.
Question 3: A social worker is working with a first-grade student who is consistently praised by his teacher for following class rules. The student states, "I follow the rules so the teacher will think I'm a good boy." According to Kohlberg's theory of moral development, the student's reasoning is indicative of which stage?
- Obedience and Punishment Orientation
- Individualism and Exchange
- Maintaining Social Order
- Good Interpersonal Relationships (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Good Interpersonal Relationships
The student's reasoning falls within Kohlberg's conventional level, specifically Stage 3: Good Interpersonal Relationships. At this stage, individuals make moral decisions based on gaining the approval of others and maintaining good relationships. The desire to be seen as a "good boy" is the primary motivator.
Question 4: Which of the following cognitive abilities is the primary developmental milestone achieved during Piaget's sensorimotor stage (birth to 2 years)?
- Symbolic thought
- Logical reasoning
- Object permanence (Correct answer)
- Hypothetical-deductive reasoning
Correct answer: Object permanence
Object permanence is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, heard, or otherwise sensed. According to Piaget, this is the main cognitive achievement of the sensorimotor stage, which typically develops between 4 and 8 months of age.
Question 5: A 72-year-old client in a life-review group expresses a sense of peace and satisfaction with his life, his accomplishments, and the relationships he has built. He feels he has made a meaningful contribution to his family and community. According to Erikson, this client is successfully resolving which developmental crisis?
- Generativity vs. Stagnation
- Ego Integrity vs. Despair (Correct answer)
- Intimacy vs. Isolation
- Trust vs. Mistrust
Correct answer: Ego Integrity vs. Despair
Erikson's final stage, Ego Integrity vs. Despair, occurs in late adulthood (65+). Successful resolution of this stage involves reflecting on one's life and feeling a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment (integrity). The client's feelings of peace and meaning indicate a positive outcome for this stage.
Question 6: A social worker observes that a 9-year-old client can solve conservation tasks (e.g., understanding that a quantity remains the same despite a change in appearance) and can think logically about concrete events. However, the client struggles with abstract concepts and hypothetical situations. According to Piaget's stages, this client is most likely in the:
- Sensorimotor stage
- Preoperational stage
- Concrete operational stage (Correct answer)
- Formal operational stage
Correct answer: Concrete operational stage
The concrete operational stage (ages 7-11) is characterized by the development of logical thought about concrete events, the mastery of conservation, and the ability to classify objects. The client's abilities and limitations align perfectly with the description of this stage. Abstract and hypothetical thinking are hallmarks of the next stage, the formal operational stage.
LMSW Human Growth and Development Questions and Answers
A 4-year-old child is brought to a play therapy session.
The social worker observes the child talking to a teddy bear, telling it that it must be sad because it was left alone.
According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, this is an example of: