General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) Hans Selye

Question 1

Who came up with General Adaption Syndrome?

Answer 1

(Hans) Selye

Question 2

What is General Adaption Syndrome? (simple)

Answer 2

• A 3 stage process (that describes the biological changes the body goes through)

Biologica/physiological/ metabolic changes etc

Question 3

What is General Adaption Syndrome?

Answer 3

• A 3 stage process that describes the biological changes the body goes through when under stress.
• The three stages are Alarm, Resistance, Exhaustion (ARE)

Question 4

What are the 3 stages of the General Adaption Syndrome?

Answer 4

• ALARM
• RESISTANCE
• EXHAUSTION
  (ARE)

Question 5

When/why did Selye (1983) proposed the idea of the General Adaption Syndrome?

Answer 5

• After observing rats undergoing physiological changes when exposed to various stressors.

All the rats had the same response to the stressors (no matter what they were exposed to)

Question 6

Explain what the “ALARM” reaction stage is.

Answer 6

• The inital symptoms the body experiences during a fight or flight response
• It features hormonal changes (increase in stress hormones noradrenaline, adrenaline and cortisol.
• It features physiological changes such as rapid breathing and faster heart rate.

Question 7

Explain what the “RESISTANCE” reaction stage is

Answer 7

• The stage in which the body returns to normal and repairs itself, after the intial shock of the stressor passes.
• However, if stressors persist the body adapts with elevated stress levels and metabolic processes.

Question 8

What happens is the stressor persists in the resistance stage?

Answer 8

• The body adapts to live with elevated stress levels and metabolic processes.

Question 9

What are the long term effects of the stressor persisting during the resistance stage?

Answer 9

• Physiological changes- elevated cortisol levels and blood pressure.
• Psychological changes- Signs of irratability, poor concentration.
• If this stage continues for too long this can lead to the exhausion stage.

Question 10

Explain what is the exhausion reaction stage

Answer 10

• The stage in which the body is no longer able to fight stress effectively or cope with elevated metabolic processes due to prolonged chronic stress.
• This can drain the individual of their emotional, mental and physical resources.

Question 11

What are some psychological signs of the exhaution stage?

Answer 11

• Fatigue
• Depression
• Anxiety

Question 12

What ais the exhaustion stage associated with? Why?

Answer 12

• illness, disease, heart damage.
• Because different organs and functions become impaired due to long term effects of stress hormones.