Seyles General adaptation syndrome

Question 1

what is selyes general adaptation syndrome model

Answer 1

the GAS model is a biological model of stress that explains the various physiological responses that occur in the presence of stressors

Question 2

what acronym is used to remember the GAS model

Answer 2

SCARE

Question 3

SCARE stands for

Answer 3

shock, countershock, alarm, resistance, exhaustion

Question 4

what is the first stage of the GAS model

Answer 4

the alarm reaction which is further divided into shock and countershock

Question 5

shock

Answer 5

first stage, the body acts if injiured and there is a momentary decrease in bodily arousal (decrease in heart rate, blood pressure and muscle tension), resistance levels fall below normal

Question 6

countershock

Answer 6

second phase, when the body is mobillised to deal with stressor due to sympathetic ns being activated, flight/fight activated, increase in bodily arousal and the ability to deal with the stressor increases above normal

Question 7

what are the physiological responses that occur in countershock

Answer 7

increased heart rate, blood pressure and muscle tension. stress hormones are released, adrenline followed by cortisol

Question 8

resistance stage

Answer 8

levels of bodily arousal remains above normal and resistance levels continue to increase, the prolonged presence of stress hormones begins to suppress immune system functioning, the individual is still able to cope with the demands of the inital stressor but eventually resources are depleted causing resitance levels to drop

Question 9

what causes the increase in resistance levels in the resistance stage and then decrease

Answer 9

increased cortisol levels contribute to the maintanence of this heightened physiological state, eventually this is depleted and sympathetic ns responses decrease in intensity

Question 10

exhaustion phase

Answer 10

the depletion of energy levels and bodily resources, resulting in an inability to cope with the stressor (which has been prolonged and persistent), bodily arousal and resistance levels drop below normal

Question 11

what are the strengths of the GAS model

Answer 11

• recognises a predictable pattern of physiological responses associated with distinct stages and substages
• recognises the relationship between chronic stress and illness
• provides objective, empirical information about the biological processes involved in the stress response

Question 12

limitations of the GAS model

Answer 12

• conducted on rats, reducing the generalisabiluity of the model on the human population
• only focuses on the biological aspect of stress
• fails to recognise the subjective nature of the stress response