NBCC NCE Exam Questions

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61.

Which of the following is true about persons 40 and above in the US job market?

  • They tend to spend more time unemployed than those under 40 

  • They tend to spend less time unemployed than those under 40

  • They are generally viewed preferentially by employment agencies 

  • They are generally placed in more managerial and supervisory roles

Correct answer: They tend to spend more time unemployed than those under 40 

The perception of age and capability is relevant to clients under financial stress, who with variable economic conditions may find themselves unemployed at the age of 40 and above. Unfortunately, there is a bias in employment agencies who view persons 40 and above as "older" and therefore less marketable to companies in search of younger talent; thus, persons 40 and above tend to spend more time unemployed than those under 40.

Persons 40 and above are not generally viewed preferentially by employment agencies, nor are they necessarily placed in more managerial and supervisory roles.

62.

Which of the following would characterize a high-context communicative culture? 

  • A relatively high degree of nonverbal communication 

  • A relatively low degree of nonverbal communication 

  • A high degree of verbal detail 

  • A relatively low respect for tradition 

Correct answer: A relatively high degree of nonverbal communication 

Cultures can be described as belonging to one of two groups with respect to their communicative norms. In high-context communicative cultures, things outside the lexical content of the message are emphasized, such as nonverbal communication and respect for tradition. The lexical context of the message is less significant in these cultures.

By contrast, low-context communicative cultures tend to emphasize the detail of the message content over other, more contextual factors. 

63.

All of the following are stages of a group as defined by Irvin Yalom, except which one?

  • Storming

  • Termination

  • Orientation

  • Cohesion

Correct answer: Storming

Irvin Yalom is known for his contributions to group counseling theory. He identified four stages: orientation, conflict, cohesion, and termination. "Storming" is the second group stage in a theory identified by Tuckman, not Yalom.

64.

A four-year-old child likes to make up games and ask others to participate in activities he enjoys. When at home, he likes to plan out his day and make decisions about what toys he is going to play with and what television shows he is going to watch. This child is in what stage of psychosocial development?

  • Initiative versus guilt

  • Autonomy versus shame and doubt

  • Industry versus inferiority

  • Identity versus role confusion

Correct answer: Initiative versus guilt

Erik Erikson identified eight stages of psychosocial development; during each stage, a psychosocial task must be mastered. During the initiative versus guilt stage, which occurs in children ages three to six, children initiate activities with others, plan activities, and make up games.

During autonomy versus shame and doubt (ages one and a half to three), the child begins to assert himself and develop independence. During industry versus inferiority (ages six to 11), children are tasked with mastering social and academic skills. During identity versus role confusion (adolescence), the individual establishes social and career identities.

65.

Why might meaning attribution be an important function of group leaders?

  • It helps group members have a common understanding of what is being expressed, and can increase familiarity with emotions and feelings

  • It provides a structure and framework for each group session, implementing predictability and consistency

  • It can help group members feel validated and accepted

  • It may create an environment in which group members feel more comfortable expressing deep emotions and personal values and beliefs

Correct answer: It helps group members have a common understanding of what is being expressed, and can increase familiarity with emotions and feelings

Irvin Yalom originally suggested that certain leadership functions—emotional stimulation, caring, meaning attribution, and executive leadership—are present in group counseling, no matter the style or theoretical orientation of the leader. Meaning attribution refers to the cognitive understanding that is made of the events in the group, which can enhance collective experiences and increase familiarity with emotions and feelings.

66.

All the following are true regarding stanine scales, except:

  • They calculate how test scores rank on a scale of 100

  • They are used to convert scores to a single digit

  • Scores are always positive 

  • Scores always range from zero to nine

Correct answer: They calculate how test scores rank on a scale of 100

Stanine (STAndard NINE) scales consist of nine points and are used to convert test scores to single digits. Stanines are always positive and can range from zero to nine. The mean of a stanine scale is always five and the standard deviation is always two.

67.

Which of the following is true about treatment for eating and elimination disorders?

  • They may involve family counseling as a frontline treatment

  • They are usually factitious in character 

  • Dialectical behavior therapy is not indicated for these disorders 

  • They have a biological/medical basis 

Correct answer: They may involve family counseling as a frontline treatment

Eating and feeding disorders are different in many ways from other mental disorders detailed in the DSM-5. They are not usually seen as having a biological/medical basis, and they are not factitious in character; they are real phenomena and not attempts for attention or malingering. 

Treatment for these disorders is variable, but in many cases, dialectical behavior therapy can help and family counseling is a key. Often, the entire family is enrolled as partners in treatment for these disorders. 

68.

Which of the following refers to a person's tendency to be aware of one's own cognition? 

  • Metacognition

  • Supercognition 

  • Supracognition

  • Self-cognition

Correct answer: Metacognition

Metacognition refers to a person's tendency to be aware of their thoughts. It is a key concept in cognitive therapy, in which the monitoring of one's thoughts and examination for patterns is central. 

Supercognition, supracognition, and self-cognition are all fabricated terms. 

69.

All of the following statements are true regarding standardized scores except which one?

  • They are an expression of a person's distance from the median in terms of distribution

  • They are conversions of raw score distributions

  • They allow for scores between individuals to be compared

  • They are continuous and have equality of units

Correct answer: They are an expression of a person's distance from the median in terms of distribution

Standardized scores are helpful when comparing several different test scores for the same person, as direct comparisons between different tests are impossible. Standardizing scores allows for continuity and an equality of units. The two most common standardized scores are z-scores and T-scores, both of which are conversions of raw score distributions. Standardized scores express the person's distance from the mean, not the median, in terms of the standard deviation from that standard score distribution.

70.

According to Murray Bowen, what is the basic building block of the family emotional system?

  • The triangle

  • The mother and father

  • The individual

  • Childhood experiences

Correct answer: The triangle

Murray Bowen is well-known for his comprehensive contributions to the field of systems family counseling. Bowen's approach is transgenerational, meaning that he believes communication patterns and dynamics are passed down from one generation to the next. He believes that triangles within family systems represent the most basic building blocks of a family's emotional system. In a triangle, emotional discomfort that exists between two family members may be somewhat alleviated by bringing in a third family member to resolve the stress. Bowen also stresses the importance of self-differentiation, projection onto children in families, birth order and sibling position, and societal regression.

71.

During counseling sessions with clients, a counselor focuses on clients' needs by encouraging them to pay attention to their feelings and relive experiences. The counselor often uses the two-chair technique and role plays to help clients identify these needs and how to meet them. This counselor is using which therapy approach?

  • Gestalt therapy

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy

  • Rational emotive behavior therapy

  • Dialectical behavior therapy

Correct answer: Gestalt therapy

Gestalt therapy is based on existential principles, and the goal of individuals in therapy is to integrate all of their needs to become a whole person. Clients are encouraged to attend to their emotions and to relive experiences. Counselors working from a gestalt approach often use the two-chair technique, role playing, and dream work.

72.

The Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) in most public schools is which kind of test?

  • Achievement

  • Predictive 

  • Interest

  • Aptitude

Correct answer: Achievement

Achievement tests are meant to measure accomplishment, not capacity. Most end-of-grade testing in public schools (such as the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills) is based on a specific curriculum that is supposed to be taught by teachers throughout the previous school year. 

A predictive test would be one that would forecast behavior. An interest test would be one that would measure the evaluated for their interest in a certain topic or field. An aptitude test would be one which evaluates ability such as verbal reasoning or spatial perception.

73.

Each state has different licensure laws for counselors. Due to this fragmentation, what is one current threat to counselors' licensure?

  • The scope of counselors' practice may become increasingly narrow

  • Some states may give excessive leniency to counselors in regard to administering psychological tests

  • There is a high possibility that licenses can be revoked for minor ethical infractions

  • Unless a counselor is certified, he or she cannot practice in more than one state at the same time

Correct answer: The scope of counselors' practice may become increasingly narrow

There are several threats to licensure for counselors. Because state laws regarding licensure vary widely and are frequently modified, the scope of practice for counselors may become increasingly narrow. Additionally, some states' laws imply that counselors are not permitted to use psychological tests in practice.

74.

In terms of attraction, marriage, and long-term commitment, which of the following accurately describes the matching hypothesis? 

  • We tend to end up with people with a similar level of attractiveness to our own

  • We tend to overrate our attractiveness with respect to the perceptions of others 

  • We tend to underrate our attractiveness with respect to the perceptions of others 

  • We tend to match ourselves with people who we perceive as less attractive than ourselves 

Correct answer: We tend to end up with people with a similar level of attractiveness to our own

The matching hypothesis addresses human mating behavior as a function of our physical attractiveness. Other factors are certainly important, but taken by itself, the phenomenon of physical attractiveness seems to be the main driver in both short-term and long-term sexual behavior. The matching hypothesis asserts that human beings tend to end up in long-term relationships with people who match our level of attractiveness.

75.

Formal education, observational learning experiences, and diverse interpersonal interactions form which of the following?

  • Humanistic life outlook

  • Psychoanalysis

  • Gestalt therapy

  • Rational emotive behavior therapy

Correct answer: Humanistic life outlook

The humanistic life outlook, based on the humanistic perspective, focuses on the positive aspects of human behavior. This approach to therapy and counseling gained popularity in the mid-20th century and emphasizes the client's ability to reach self-actualization. It is formed by a combination of formal education about various topics, such as Maslow's hierarchy of needs; observational learning experiences, which can help build empathy and understanding; and interpersonal interactions.

76.

According to Erikson's psychosocial stages of development, which of the following is probably false about a person in the intimacy vs. isolation stage?

  • They are 33-44 years of age

  • They are learning to depend on others instead of depending on self

  • They are 23-34 years of age

  • They are experimenting with marriage and family

Correct answer: They are 35-45 years of age

Erik Erikson suggested that there were several stages of psychosocial development, each of which dealt with a different test. At about 23-34 years of age, Erikson suggested that we enter the stage of intimacy vs. isolation, in which a person is learning the balance of dependence on others versus dependence on self. One of the activities of this stage is the experimentation with marriage and family. 

77.

What type of group is most dedicated to exploring basic life assumptions, recognizing strengths and accepting responsibility, and developing social interests?

  • Adlerian

  • Cognitive behavioral

  • Self-help

  • T-group

Correct answer: Adlerian

Adlerian groups aim to help people explore basic life assumptions, recognize strengths, encourage the acceptance of responsibility, and develop social interests.

Cognitive behavioral groups are a type of task group that aims to teach members how their thoughts impact their behaviors and feelings. Self-help groups are informal groups without a designated leader and usually serve as a support group. A T-group is an experiential group meant to help members change various aspects of their lives.

78.

Who created the term "eugenics" and was one of the first individuals to study intelligence testing?

  • Sir Francis Galton

  • Alfred Binet

  • David Wechsler

  • Robert Williams

Correct answer: Sir Francis Galton

Sir Francis Galton was a cousin of Charles Darwin and studied anthropology and intelligence in the late 1800s. He believed that intelligence was completely determined by genetics and therefore could be cultivated through selective parenting. Eugenics refers to the process of genetically improving the human population.

79.

A group counselor tends to act more like a member than a leader and offers suggestions to group members, but is overall non-directive. What type of group is this counselor most likely a part of?

  • Person-centered

  • Psychoanalytic

  • Transactional analysis

  • Adlerian

Correct answer: Person-centered

Person-centered group work is based on the work of Carl Rogers and the principles of unconditional positive regard, empathy, and genuineness. Counselors leading groups based on person-centered theory are often non-directive and tend to act more like members than leaders. Because these groups are less structured, there is considerable focus on listening and reflection.

80.

Harriet believes in explaining the "why" of rules to her children. She has high expectations but is warm and nurturing. What would be the most likely outcome for this child in their functioning?

  • Relatively high happiness, good performance overall, high emotional regulation 

  • Relatively high happiness, poor performance overall, high emotional regulation 

  • Relatively high happiness, good performance overall, low emotional regulation 

  • Relatively low happiness, poor performance overall, high emotional regulation 

Correct answer: Relatively high happiness, good performance overall, high emotional regulation 

Harriet is practicing what could be described as an authoritative parenting style: authority is present and strictly maintained but is well-explained to children. There is also a general background of warmth and nurturing. This parenting style tends to produce children who have relatively high happiness, good performance overall, and a high degree of emotional regulation.