GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME (GAS) Flashcards
General adaptation syndrome
regardless of the stressor, physiological arousal was the same.
concluded that stress is a non-specific response to internal or external stressors.
a three-stage physiological response to stress that occurs regardless of the stressor that is encountered.
the model
-If we are healthy and relaxed, our body exhibits a normal level of resistance to stress – homeostatic state.
-faced with a stressor, this level of resistance changes – initially it drops, but soon increases as we mobilise the resources needed to combat the stressor.
- managing the stressor, our resistance to stress is higher than normal.
-using up resources, don’t successfully deal with the stressor burn out!
GAS Stage 1: Alarm reaction
-body initially goes into Shock where we dip below our normal level of resistance to stress.
-body acts as if it were injured: body temperature and blood pressure drop, we may feel cold and clammy,
- may be a temporary loss of muscle tone.
-fight begins and we enter Countershock.
-resistance to stress is above normal as there is an increased level of adrenalin in the bloodstream.
-fight flight kicks in!
GAS Stage 2: Resistance
-Cortisol enters the bloodstream to further energise the body.
-Unnecessary functions are heavily reduced. The individual appears as though all is normal.
-but cortisol weakens immune system activity so while we are dealing with the initial stressor, an attack by a second stressor may not be successfully countered.
- weakened immune system, susceptible to illnesses such as a cold.
-cortisol also slows down tissue repair, resulting in wear and tear on the body.
GAS Stage 3: Exhaustion
If the initial stressor is dealt with successfully during the resistance stage, the body will return to a state of homeostasis.
-susceptibility to disease has increased.
- immune system has been compromised.
-fatigue has set in.
- increased likelihood of illnesses such as stomach ulcers, heart problems, skin disorders, depression, anxiety etc etc.
GAS: Limitations
-Does not take into account individual differences in physiological responses to stress
-Does not take into account individual psychological responses to stressors
-Much of the research was done with animals (rats) and therefore may not fully explain the human stress response
-Recent research suggests different stressors trigger different patterns of hormone secretion – there is no uniform response to a non-specific stressor.
GAS: Advantages
-Outlines a predictable pattern of our response to stress
-Demonstrates what might occur if we are unable to overcome stressors quickly – that we might run out of resources
-Provides a biological/physiological approach to how we deal with stress
-Links stress with disease/illness
