Therapist Development Center Practice Exam 1

What does the lack of expression and refusal to engage verbally in a grieving teenager indicate about his emotional state?

1. Defenses

2. Self-concept

3. Depression

4. Anger

The correct answer is: Defenses

The choice indicating "defenses" as the correct answer highlights the psychological mechanisms that a grieving teenager may be employing to manage their emotions. When a teenager shows a lack of expression and refuses to engage verbally, it often suggests that they are using defense mechanisms to cope with their overwhelming feelings of grief. This lack of communication can serve as a protection against the pain of loss, allowing them to avoid confronting their emotions directly. Defenses can manifest in various ways, such as repression (pushing feelings out of conscious awareness), denial (refusing to accept the reality of the loss), or even intellectualization (focusing on abstract concepts instead of feelings). In the context of grief, these defenses can be particularly prominent, as the process of mourning can bring about intense emotions that may feel unbearable to address. Other options, while relevant to the context of grieving, may not fully capture the defensive stance that the teenager is exhibiting. For instance, while depression can certainly be a part of the grieving process, especially if it leads to persistent sadness and withdrawal, the specific behavior of lack of expression and verbal refusal points more towards avoidance strategies. Similarly, self-concept pertains more to how the individual views themselves rather than their behavior in response to grief. Anger can certainly