Final answer:
Denial is a coping mechanism that serves as a temporary defense and is part of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's five-stage model of grief. The correct order of these stages is denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, where denial buffers the individual from the impact of the bad news initially.
Step-by-step explanation:
Denial is a way of buffering bad news until a person can mobilize the resources to deal with that news more effectively. This coping mechanism is part of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's five-stage model of grief, which outlines the typical progression of emotions someone may go through when faced with terminal illness or the loss of a loved one. The correct order of these stages is:
- Denial
- Anger
- Bargaining
- Depression
- Acceptance
During the denial stage, individuals tend to refuse the reality of their situation, which can serve as a temporary defense by giving the individual time to adjust to the painful news. As they begin to acknowledge the reality, they may progress to feelings of anger at the perceived injustice of their situation. Bargaining often follows, as they attempt to negotiate for more time or a cure. Depression comes next, signaling a deeper level of processing and acknowledgment of the loss before eventually reaching acceptance, where they come to terms with their reality.