Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Practice Examination

What are the three stages of emotional response in children related to separation according to Bowlby?

1. Disruption, Detachment, Recovery

2. Protest, Despair, Recovery

3. Protest, Despair, Detachment

4. Denial, Anger, Acceptance

The correct answer is: Protest, Despair, Detachment

The framework outlined by Bowlby regarding the emotional responses of children to separation identifies three critical stages: Protest, Despair, and Detachment. During the Protest stage, children exhibit intense emotional responses such as crying and searching for the caregiver, demonstrating their distress at the separation. This is a natural reaction as they express their need for comfort and reassurance from the caregiver. In the Despair stage, children may appear withdrawn and exhibit sadness. They might stop their protests but still struggle internally with feelings of loss and hopelessness. This stage reflects deeper emotional pain, as the initial hope for the caregiver’s return diminishes. Finally, in the Detachment stage, children may begin to engage with their environment in a way that suggests they are adapting to the separation. However, this can often be misinterpreted as recovery, as the child may detach from their feelings towards the caregiver, leading to a more indifferent stance. Understanding these stages is crucial for helping adults recognize and support children through their emotional turmoil during periods of separation, ensuring appropriate interventions can be applied at each stage to foster healthy coping mechanisms. The other options do not accurately reflect Bowlby's model, as they include stages or terminology that do not align with his research on the attachment theory and emotional responses in