Elayni returns from an emergency shelter to find her home was totally destroyed by a hurricane. Relief workers find her wandering aimlessly around the wreckage and debris, mumbling incoherently to herself and staring vacantly into space. Her behavior sounds typical of someone in the ________ stage of reaction to a catastrophe.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Elayni's behavior suggests that she is in shock, the immediate and initial stage of reaction to a catastrophe where individuals may experience a range of psychosomatic symptoms, including confusion, disorientation, shock, and numbness. This is a common response to traumatic events, involving a physical and psychological shutdown, and is often followed by other stages such as resilience, recovery, and long-term adaptation.

Elayni Returns from an Emergency Shelter to Find Her Home