Which of the following lists the five basic stages of grief?

• A. Denial, Shock, Anger, Depression, Acceptance
• B. Grief, Loss, Mourning, Adjustment
• C. Denial, Anger, Depression, Bargaining, Acceptance/Adaptation
• D. Denial, Anger, Acceptance, Bargaining, Depression

Answer: (C)

These stages describe common emotional responses people go through after a loss as they work through grief. The option in question lists Denial, Anger, Depression, Bargaining, and Acceptance/Adaptation. It includes all five stages—Denial and Anger are present, along with Bargaining, Depression, and a final Acceptance or Adaptation—so it matches the standard set of five stages, with the final stage framed as Acceptance or Adaptation. The order can vary in different explanations, but the essential idea is the progression through these five experiences toward some form of acceptance.

Other options either include terms not part of the core five (like Shock or Mourning), omit a stage, or present a nonstandard sequence, making them less consistent with the classic framework.