Which stage follows the denial stage in the Kubler-Ross model?

• A. Bargaining
• B. Depression
• C. Anger
• D. Acceptance

Answer: (C)

When grief is met with denial, the natural next emotional response is anger. Denial acts as a protective shield, dampening the impact of the loss. As that shield starts to lower, feelings surface in the form of anger—blame directed at others, at oneself, or at the situation—marking movement from avoidance toward acknowledging the reality of what has happened. This anger is a normal, transitional phase that helps people process the loss and prepare for the subsequent stages, such as bargaining, depression, and ultimately acceptance. The other stages tend to follow in turn, with bargaining coming after anger, depression following bargaining, and acceptance as the final integration of the loss.