Social Work Examination Services (SWES) Human Behavior Practice Test

In ego psychology, what unconscious motive might a client have for seeking help?

1. Creating practical solutions

2. Avoiding confrontation

3. Keeping unconscious desires from consciousness

4. Demonstrating self-sufficiency

The correct answer is: Keeping unconscious desires from consciousness

In ego psychology, the unconscious motive a client might have for seeking help often involves the desire to keep unconscious desires from becoming conscious. This approach emphasizes the role of the ego in mediating between the id (instinctual desires) and the external world. Clients may be struggling with unresolved conflicts, repressed feelings, or wishes that they are not fully aware of, and seeking help could be a way to navigate these feelings without directly confronting them. Many clients may not consciously recognize the roots of their distress or the deeper motivations behind their behaviors. By seeking help, they may indirectly address these unconscious desires and conflicts with the guidance of a therapist, who can assist in exploring these underlying issues in a safe space. This process can lead to greater self-awareness and the integration of these unconscious elements into consciousness, which is a fundamental goal within ego psychology. In contrast, creating practical solutions, avoiding confrontation, and demonstrating self-sufficiency reflect more overt and conscious motivations that may not capture the deeper psychological processes at play when a person engages with therapy. These motivations may be relevant but do not encapsulate the complex dynamics of unconscious motives highlighted in ego psychology.