General Adaptation Syndrome

Question 1

Who created the general adaptation syndrome?

Answer 1

Selye

Question 2

What did Selye propose?

Answer 2

The body’s response to a stressor is the same, regardless of the nature of the stressor. It’s a combination of factors which occur in order to help the body adapt to the situation

Question 3

What study did Selye conduct?

Answer 3

He did research with rats, which were exposed to extreme cold, fatigue, surgical trauma, electric shocks etc. These were different sources of stress

Question 4

What is stage one?

Answer 4

Alarm reaction

Question 5

What does the alarm reaction involve?

Answer 5

A stressor is perceived and the hypothalamus signals the sympathetic nervous system which activates the adrenal medulla to secrete adrenaline and noradrenaline (SAM response)

Question 6

What is stage two?

Answer 6

Resistance

Question 7

What does the resistance involve?

Answer 7

If a stressor cannot be dealt with or it continues the body’s stress system maintains at a high level. The sympathetic nervous system declines and cortisol is increased. This provides more energy to resist the stress (HPA system)

Question 8

What is stage three?

Answer 8

Exhaustion

Question 9

What does exhaustion involve?

Answer 9

If the stress response persists the body becomes exhausted and resources to deal with the stressor have been drained. The adrenal glands may become damaged and the immune system is compromised. This is when stress related illnesses occur

Question 10

What are two strengths of general adaptation syndrome?

Answer 10

• it was the first theory to explain the physiological effects of stress and influenced a lot of later theories of research which have supported Selye work
• based on carefully controlled lab research and this suggests findings are high in validity

Question 11

What are three limitations of general adaptation syndrome?

Answer 11

• research based on animals so it’s difficult to draw firm conclusions about the stress in humans
• Mason shows stressors vary in the amount of adrenaline and cortisol they produce depending on the stress created so makes us question GAS model
• research subjected rats to forms of painful stress which was ethically unacceptable