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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What does repression primarily involve?

  1. Forgetting on purpose

  2. Symptomatic forgetting of unacceptable ideas

  3. Hyper-remembering negative events

  4. Denying reality

The correct answer is: Symptomatic forgetting of unacceptable ideas

Repression involves the unconscious blocking of unacceptable thoughts and feelings. Option A is incorrect because forgetting on purpose is a conscious act, while repression is an unconscious process. Option C is incorrect because repression typically involves forgetting or suppressing negative events, not hyper-remembering them. Option D is incorrect because although denying reality can be a defense mechanism, it is not the primary aspect of repression. Repression is specifically about suppressing unwanted or disturbing thoughts and emotions.