Caplan identifies four sources of difficulties that consultees face, with increasing levels of anxiety and resistance. They are:

• A. lack of knowledge, lack of skill, lack of confidence, and lack of objectivity.
• B. lack of resources, lack of skill, lack of confidentiality, and lack of objectivity.
• C. lack of integration, lack of time, lack of confidence, and lack of objectivity.
• D. lack of knowledge, lack of skill, lack of confidence, and lack of confidentiality.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is Caplan’s framework for what makes consultees struggle in the consultation process. He identifies four areas where a consultee may be deficient, and these gaps tend to produce anxiety and resistance as the professional tries to engage with the process. The four sources are lack of knowledge, lack of skill, lack of confidence, and lack of objectivity. Knowledge gaps mean the consultee doesn’t know what to do, skill gaps mean they don’t know how to do it, confidence gaps mean they doubt their ability or their role in the process, and objectivity gaps mean they’re biased or unable to see the issue clearly. These four categories capture different facets of readiness and capability that can hinder progress in consultation.

The other options introduce factors not described by Caplan as the core difficulties—things like resources, confidentiality, integration, or time—so they don’t map to the four foundational sources Caplan identified. Noting the distinction between objectivity and confidentiality helps clarify why the correct set is the only one that aligns with Caplan’s model.