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Social Work License (MSW Exam)
Questions and Answers 2024/2025
Piaget
(Adaptations, Assimilation and Accommodation)
0-1 Sensory-Motor
2-4 Preoperational Period
5-7 "
8-12 Concrete Operations period
13-18 formal Operations period
19-21
21 +
50 +
Freud (Libido)
0-1 Oral
2-4 Anal
Oedipal/Phallic
8-12 Latency
13-18 Genital
19-21 "
21+ "
50 + "
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Erickson
(Stage conflict)
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
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
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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
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
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
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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.
Intimacy vs. Isolation (stage 6) (early to late 20s)
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)
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)
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