It is common for anticipatory grief survivors to practice __________ in their minds.

• A. Role rehearsal
• B. Ambivalence
• C. Self-blame
• D. Unreality about the loss

Answer: (A)

In anticipatory grief, people often mentally rehearse what life will be like after the loss. This role rehearsal means they imagine conversations, caregiving tasks, and daily routines they’ll need to manage, and they plan how they’ll respond in various situations. Practicing these scenarios in the mind helps reduce anxiety, increase a sense of control, and prepare them emotionally and practically for the changes ahead.

Ambivalence, self-blame, and unreality about the loss are related emotional responses, but they aren’t typically described as deliberate mental rehearsal. Ambivalence is mixed feelings about the situation, self-blame involves guilt, and unreality reflects disbelief; none involves the purposeful cognitive practice that helps with adjustment after loss.