The Physiology of Stress

Question 1

What does GAS stand for?

Answer 1

General Adaptation Syndrome.

Question 2

Which theorist is linked with GAS?

Answer 2

Selye.

Question 3

What is the overview of GAS?

Answer 3

• Stress is the body’s attempt to adapt to a stressor.
• Protects the body in the short term (acute stressor).
• If stressor is prolonged (chronic) stress-related illness can occur.

Question 4

What is stage 1 of GAS?

Answer 4

Alarm reaction.

Question 5

Define the process of Alarm reaction:

Answer 5

• Once a stressor is perceived the body’s physiological response is ‘shock’.
• The body’s recourses are briefly decreased (resistance).
• Preparation for fight or flight.

Question 6

What is stage 2 of GAS?

Answer 6

Resistance.

Question 7

Define the process of resistance:

Answer 7

• Uses lots of energy.
• Body resources are consumed at a harmful rate (stress hormones produced in large quantities).
• Parasympathetic nervous system is activated to conserve energy.
• Stressor is becoming chronic.

Question 8

What is stage 3 of GAS?

Answer 8

Exhaustion.

Question 9

Define the process of exhaustion:

Answer 9

• Adaptation to chronic stressor is failing.
• Body’s resistance has become drained.
• Resistance drops.
• Experience symptoms
  of synthetic arousal (sweating and raised heart-rate/blood pressure).
• Adrenal glands may become damaged.
• Immune system is compromised.
• Stress-related illnesses are likely (coronary heart disease and depression).

Question 10

What is a strength to GAS?

Answer 10

• Selye experiment’s with rats.

Procedure: subjecting them to stressors such as extreme cold, excessive muscular exercise and surgical injury.

Findings: The same responses occurred regardless the stressor ( bodily reaction to damage appeared after 6-48 hours).

• Continuing the stressor through the resistance and exhaustion stages.
• Providing evidence of GAS as it shows the body’s response to a stressor in a physiological reality.

Question 11

What is a limitation of GAS?

Answer 11

• Mason replicated selye’s procedure using seven stressors on monkeys.

Procedure: measured the’ levels of cortisol in their urine.

Findings: varied effects depending on the stressor.

• Extreme cold= increased levels.
• Extreme heat= reduced levels.
• Excessive Exercise= no changes.
• This questions validity: challenging the concept as shows that specific stressors can produce specific responses.