Biological Processes Of Stress - Edrolo Flashcards
Counter shock
The second phase of the alarm reaction stage of general adaptation syndrome in which the body increases its resistance to a stressor above normal levels through the release of adrenaline into the bloodstream. Blood pressure and body temperature rise. The sympathetic Nervous System is activated and the fight flight freeze response is activated.
Alarm Reaction stage
The first stage of general adaptation syndrome in which a person first becomes aware of a stressor and the flight- fight response is activated. Comprised of two phases, shock and counter shock.
General Adaptation Syndrome
A model originally proposed by Hans Seyle to describe the body’s short-term and long-term reactions to stress. It explains stress from a physiological perspective. Style believed when an individual is threatened they move through three different bodily stages: the alarm reaction stage, resistance stage and exhaustion stage.
Exhaustion Stage
If the stressor is not dealt with during resistance, the organism enters the exhaustion stage. The third stage of general adaptation syndrome in which the body has dealt with a stressor for an extended period of time, resulting in an individual becoming physically and psychologically exhausted because their resources are depleted. Resistance to stress is below normal and the immune system is left weakened from the continued release of cortisol, this combined with the prolonged release of adrenalin and cortisol has negative effects on the body that make the individual susceptible to illness and disease.
Shock
The first phase of the alarm- reaction stage of general adaptation syndrome in which the ability to deal with a stressor falls below normal level. Physiologically, the body reacts as if it was injured, blood pressure and body temperature drop.
Resistance
The second stage of general adaptation syndrome in which a person enters a stage of resistance above normal levels where cortisol is released and all unnecessary functions are shut down as the body is being taxed to generate resistance. ThE individual appears as though all is normal.
Strength and limitation of Seyles General Adaptation Syndrome
Strengths: it is a predictable pattern that can be measured in individuals. It can be used to track biological patterns in different types of stress. Limitations: most of the Research was not conducted on humans. Does not account for individual differences and psychological factors.
Compare and contrast the fight flight freeze response and the general adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
The fight flight freeze response and the GAS are both physiological processes of stress however the fight flight freeze response occurs immediately upon stimulus whereas the GAS explains the longer term stress response.
The fight flight freeze response primarily occurs in the Nervous System which is similar to the GAS which also occurs in the Nervous System but also occurs in the circulatory system.
Both responses release cortisol however The GAS explains susceptibility to diseases from long term stress due to cortisol release. Neither r epimerise explain the differences in stress response between individuals.
Susceptibility to disease in the resistance stage
Because cortisol weakens immune system functioning it can lead to susceptibility to disease during resistance. For example during an exam week a student may be able to cope well and study every night but soon after exams come down with the flu. The body is focused on the initial stressor during resistance, it has failed to respond to the new stressor of a virus entering the body from increased cortisol.
