Selye's General Adaptation Theory (3B)

Question 1

What are psychological processes?

Answer 1

Feelings like fear, excitement and thoughts such as ‘I can’t cope’

Question 2

What are physiological processes?

Answer 2

Physical responses such as increased heart rate and increased tension.

Question 3

What is the general adaptation syndrome?

Answer 3

A biological model
involving three stages of
physiological reactions
that a person experiences
in response to a persistent
stressor.

Question 4

What acronym can be used for remembering the stages of the general adaptation syndrome?

Answer 4

SCARE

Shock
Counter shock
Alarm reaction
Resistance
Exhaustion

Question 5

What is the first stage of the general adaptation syndrome?

Answer 5

Alarm reaction

Question 6

What is the first substage of alarm reaction in the general adaptation syndrome?

Answer 6

Shock

Question 7

What is the second substage of alarm reaction in the general adaptation syndrome?

Answer 7

Counter shock

Question 8

What is the second stage of the general adaptation syndrome?

Answer 8

Resistance

Question 9

What is the third stage of the general adaptation syndrome?

Answer 9

Exhaustion

Question 10

What is alarm reaction in relation to the general adaptation syndrome?

Answer 10

The first stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome involving the initial decrease and subsequent increase in bodily arousal in response to an immediate stressor.

Question 11

What is shock in relation to the general adaptation syndrome?

Answer 11

The first substage of the alarm reaction stage involving decreased bodily arousal for a brief period of time following the initial exposure to a stressor.

Question 12

What is counter shock in relation to the general adaptation syndrome?

Answer 12

The second substage of the alarm reaction stage in which sympathetic nervous system responses occur that mobilise the body to respond to the
stressor.

Question 13

What is resistance in relation to the general adaptation syndrome?

Answer 13

The second stage of the General
Adaptation Syndrome involving maintaining high levels of bodily arousal in response to a persistent
stressor.

Question 14

What is exhaustion in relation to the general adaptation syndrome?

Answer 14

The third stage of the General
Adaptation Syndrome involving the depletion of energy levels and bodily
resources, resulting in an inability to cope with the stressor.

Question 15

What are some strengths of the general adaptation syndrome theory?

Answer 15

Provides a predictable pattern occurring for stress.

Recognises the relationship between chronic stress and illness.

Provides objective information about the stress response.

Question 16

What are some weaknesses of the general adaptation syndrome theory?

Answer 16

As it was conducted on rats, the generalizability is reduced.

It ignores the importance of psychological factors relating to the stress response.

It suggests that stress is the same for everyone, when it can be experienced differently.