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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In the context of defense mechanisms, what best describes repression?

  1. Expressing feelings in a social setting

  2. Forgetting serves to banish unacceptable thoughts

  3. Direct expression of anger

  4. Substituting a goal with an unrelated one

The correct answer is: Forgetting serves to banish unacceptable thoughts

Repression involves unconsciously pushing unacceptable thoughts, feelings, and desires into our subconscious. It is a defense mechanism that helps us to avoid facing these uncomfortable or distressing thoughts. Option A is incorrect because it deals with expressing feelings, while repression is about suppressing those feelings. Option C is incorrect because it deals with direct expression of anger, while repression is about suppressing and not expressing. Option D is incorrect because it deals with substituting a goal with an unrelated one, while repression is about suppressing and not substituting.