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

Dichotomous thinking in social work refers to what?

1. Budget management

2. Either-or thinking where differences are seen as inferior

3. Fostering cooperative relationships

4. A quantitative decision-making process

The correct answer is: Either-or thinking where differences are seen as inferior

Dichotomous thinking in social work refers to the tendency to categorize things as either good or bad, right or wrong, without recognizing that there can be shades of gray or multiple perspectives. B is the correct answer because it accurately captures the concept of either-or thinking and how it can be harmful in social work. A, C, and D are incorrect because they do not specifically address this type of thinking and may be confused with other important skills or processes in social work. For example, budget management is an important skill, but it is not related to dichotomous thinking. Likewise, fostering cooperative relationships and a quantitative decision-making process are important aspects of social work, but they do not directly relate to dichotomous thinking.