During the escalator incident, Andy felt...

• A. he felt completely responsible for the incident
• B. he felt ignored by others
• C. like he wasn't there at all
• D. he felt proud of his actions

Answer: (C)

Dissociation is a common way people cope with something overwhelming. When a traumatic moment hits, the mind can distance itself from the experience, making the person feel detached, unreal, or as if they’re watching from outside their own body.

In the escalator incident, Andy’s feeling that he wasn’t there at all fits this pattern. He seems apart from the moment, as if the event isn’t fully happening to him, which is a protective, numbing response to shock.

This best explains his reaction compared to the other possibilities, which would describe active guilt, a sense of social neglect, or a positive emotion in a stressful situation.