Clinical Practice SWES Practice Exam

With a client who has narcissistic personality disorder, the social worker is least likely to become what?

1. The object of wish for mirroring

2. Idealized by the client

3. The object of the client's dependency

4. Fulfilling the client's entitlement

The correct answer is: The object of the client's dependency

The correct answer is that the social worker is least likely to become the object of the client's dependency. In the context of narcissistic personality disorder, individuals typically exhibit a deep need for admiration and validation, yet they often maintain an attitude of self-sufficiency and superiority that makes them reluctant to rely on others. This independence can manifest as a resistance to emotional dependency, leading to a dynamic where they may seek out support but do so in a manner that avoids genuine vulnerability or reliance on caregivers or therapists. Clients with narcissistic personality disorder often idealize their therapists or social workers and may attempt to create a mirroring relationship where they reflect back the traits they admire. They may hold an expectation that the social worker will fulfill their needs for admiration and entitlement, driving the therapeutic relationship more toward a transactional or superficial interaction rather than one based on mutual emotional dependency. Therefore, the social worker is unlikely to become an object of dependency, as individuals with this disorder often reject the notion of needing help or support in a conventional sense.