Sociologist Helen Ebaugh studied the process of role exit by interviewing ex-convicts, ex-nuns, retirees, divorced men and women, and others who had exited voluntarily from significant social roles. Ebaugh concluded that role exit occurs in four stages. is the second stage.

A search for alternatives.

Explanation:

Helen Fuchs Rose Ebaugh was an ex-nun who theorized the Role Theory. She tried to study the role of becoming an ex as she left a life oof nun to be a wife, mother and study sociology. She has defined the theory in four stages namely doubt, search for alternatives, departure, and new role.

The second stage of the theory is "a search for an alternative." In this stage, the person starts exploring alternative roles and sense the freedom of choice one has. When a person goes through the first stage of doubt and unhappiness he/she starts exploring alternative roles to seek happiness.

For example, a divorced woman will try to seek career options to make her stand in the society.

So, the correct answer is a search for an alternative.