Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Clinical Practice Exam

The statement that risk factors for violence increase the likelihood that a community will be affected by, or a client will be a perpetrator of, violence is accurate because risk factors are linked to a greater understanding of the social, economic, and psychological variables that contribute to violent behavior. These factors can include elements such as poverty, exposure to violence in childhood, substance abuse, and lack of social support, among others. When these risk factors are present within a community, they can create an environment that is more conducive to violence, affecting not only individuals directly involved but also the wider community.

This option recognizes that risk factors do not operate in isolation but instead play a role in broader contexts, influencing patterns of violence in society. It highlights the importance of addressing these issues on multiple levels, including individual, familial, and community levels, to mitigate potential violence effectively.

The other options do not accurately represent the nature of risk factors for violence: they are not limited to individual levels, they do not provide absolute predictions of aggressive behavior, and they do not have a straightforward positive association with protective factors. Understanding violence through a multifaceted lens helps to design better prevention and intervention strategies.