Question

In Kübler-Ross's ______ stage, people resist the idea of death. In the ______ stage, they attempt to make deals to avoid death, and in the ______ stage, they passively await death.

Short answer

The filled blanks are Denial, Bargaining, and Depression respectively.

Step-by-step solution

Identify Kübler-Ross's Five Stages of Grief

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's model is composed of five stages of grief, which are: 1. Denial, 2. Anger, 3. Bargaining, 4. Depression, 5. Acceptance. Each stage signifies a particular approach or response to the news of terminal illness or death.

Apply the Stages to the Given Exercise

The first blank mentions the stage where people 'resist the idea of death'. This corresponds to the 'Denial' stage. So, the first blank is 'Denial'. For the second blank, it refers to the stage where people 'attempt to make deals to avoid death'. This stage is the 'Bargaining' stage. Hence, the second blank is filled with 'Bargaining'. Finally, the third blank refers to 'they passively await death', an indication of the 'Depression' stage. Hence, the third blank is filled with 'Depression'.

Key concepts

Denial stage

When navigating the challenging process of grief, the Denial stage often serves as an initial, protective mechanism. At this juncture, individuals confront the shock of their loss with disbelief, effectively providing themselves a temporary respite from the intensity of their emotions. It's akin to an emotional anesthesia, buffering the direct hit of the reality.

In the context of the exercise, the Denial stage is marked by resistance to the idea of death. It's not so much a refusal of the fact but rather an inability to accept the full weight of the circumstance at that moment. It can manifest as avoidance, confusion, or shock. This stage can be crucial for mental preservation, allowing people to muster the energy and emotional wherewithal to eventually face their situation head-on.

Bargaining stage

Following the Denial stage, the Bargaining stage emerges, often with a flurry of