Association of Social Work Boards Masters (ASWB MSW) Practice Exam

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Prepare for the Association of Social Work Boards Masters (ASWB MSW) Exam with confidence. Our comprehensive quiz offers detailed questions and explanations to help you understand critical concepts and theories in social work. Get ready to excel in your exam!

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Defense mechanisms are primarily used to protect people from what?

  1. Physical harm

  2. Anxiety

  3. Social interaction

  4. Financial loss

The correct answer is: Anxiety

Defense mechanisms are psychological strategies used by an individual's ego to reduce feelings of anxiety or psychological discomfort. Option A, physical harm, is typically addressed through physical coping mechanisms, such as fight or flight responses. Option C, social interaction, is also not directly related to defense mechanisms, as these are used for individual internal processes rather than social interactions. Option D, financial loss, could also cause anxiety but is not the primary purpose of defense mechanisms.