A 60-year-old retiree was awakened early one morning by a police officer who informed her that her
husband had died while jogging.
The next 3 days the widow went through the funeral ritual in a state
of numbness. Several of her friends tried to get her to vent her feelings by crying. Which statements
offer plausible explanations for the widow's inability to cry? (More than one answer may be
correct.)
A. The acute stage of grief involves shock and disbelief that may last for several days.
B. Culture is a determinant of grief responses. Some groups view emotional displays negatively.
C. Psychologically unhealthy individuals are likely to have atypical grief reactions.
D. The unconscious use of denial is considered normal for several days after a loss. It protects the
individual from the intolerable pain of loss.
A, B, D
Rationale: Options A, B, and D are true statements with relevance to the scenario. Option C: This
statement is not based on fact. It has no relevance to the individual's inability to cry during the initial
stage of grieving, which is marked by shock, disbelief, and denial.
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Which action would increase the control of an experimental study?
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