How many stages of grief are listed?

• A. 5
• B. 6
• C. 7
• D. 8

Answer: (C)

Grief is described as a sequence of multiple experiences rather than a single feeling. While the original version of the model lists five stages, many resources present a seven-stage framework to better capture the range of emotions people may encounter after a loss. In that seven-stage view, extra stages such as shock or disbelief and meaning-making (finding purpose or rebuilding life) accompany the familiar denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. So, when this question uses seven as the count, it’s referring to that expanded model, making seven the best answer. The five-stage or six-stage variants exist in other contexts, but they don’t match the five-stage versus seven-stage distinction this item is testing.