4C A biological model of stress

Question 1

General adaptation syndrome (GAS) as a biological model of stress

Answer 1

A biological model of stress that states that stress occurs in 3 stages

Question 2

Three stages of GAS

Answer 2

1- alarm reaction (shock, counter shock)

2- resistance

3- exhaustion

Question 3

Alarm reaction stage in GAS

Answer 3

First stage of GAS, in which we become aware of the stressor; consists of shock and counter shock

Question 4

Resistance stage in GAS

Answer 4

Second stage of GAS, stressor persists, and the bodys resources are maximised to cope and adapt over time

• body can adapt to strains and demands of the environment for some time

Question 5

Exhaustion stage in GAS

Answer 5

third stage of GAS, in which the continued depletion of energy stores and high levels of hormones such as cortisol decrease resistance to stressor and impair the immune system

Question 6

Alarm reaction stage biological symptoms

Answer 6

Shock
- acute stress response
- loss of muscular tine, lowering of body temp and blood pressure

Counter shock
- flight-or-fight-or-freeze response occurs to deal with stressor
- adrenaline and cortisol initially released
- muscle tense, heart rate and breathing rate increase, pupils dilate

Question 7

Alarm reaction stage resistance to stresser

Answer 7

Shock
- below normal

Counter shock
- initially below, but rises above normal

Question 8

Resistance stage biological symptoms

Answer 8

• cortisol levels are at highest (helps repair damage to the body and maximise bodys resources to cope and adapt to the stressor over time)
• higher blood sugar levels = increased energy
• immune system functioning impaired
• physical signs of wear and tear appear (e.g, colds and flu symptoms, headaches and lethargy)

Question 9

Resistance stage resistance to the stressor

Answer 9

• well above normal
• beginning to drop

Question 10

Exhaustion stage biological symptoms

Answer 10

• energy stores depleted
• increased susceptibility to several physical conditions such as infection, stomach ulcers, sleep disturbances and fatigue
• body may become weak
• excess cortisol in bloodstream over a long time impair the immune system and gut function

Question 11

Exhaustion stage resistance to the stressor

Answer 11

• well below normal

Question 12

Strength of the GAS model

Answer 12

• predictable pattern of responses that can easily be tested in a laboratory
• includes various biological stress response processes (e.g hormone secretion and immune depletion)
• one of the first theorys to suggest that stress can weaken the bodys resistance to illness
• there is research and evidence backing the stages up (at least in rats)

Question 13

Limitations of the GAS model

Answer 13

• humans and rats are different (GAS model cant be simply generalised to humans)
• doesnt acknowledge the psychological or cognitive processing involved in human stress response
• doesnt consider individual differences in stress responses