What is General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) described by Selye?

What is General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) described by Selye?

• A. General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
• B. Fight-or-flight response
• C. Tend-and-befriend model
• D. Yerkes-Dodson law

Answer: (A)

General Adaptation Syndrome is Hans Selye’s theory that the body’s response to stress follows a general, three-stage pattern rather than a single reaction. It begins with an alarm reaction, where arousal spikes and stress hormones are released; then moves into a resistance stage, where the body tries to cope and mobilize resources; and finally reaches exhaustion, when persistent stress depletes resources and the risk of illness increases. This model is nonspecific—the same sequence occurs no matter what the stressor is. It’s distinct from the immediate fight-or-flight response, which is just the initial arousal, and from other concepts like tend-and-befriend or the Yerkes-Dodson law, which describe different ideas about stress and performance.

General Adaptation Syndrome is Hans Selye’s theory that the body’s response to stress follows a general, three-stage pattern rather than a single reaction. It begins with an alarm reaction, where arousal spikes and stress hormones are released; then moves into a resistance stage, where the body tries to cope and mobilize resources; and finally reaches exhaustion, when persistent stress depletes resources and the risk of illness increases. This model is nonspecific—the same sequence occurs no matter what the stressor is. It’s distinct from the immediate fight-or-flight response, which is just the initial arousal, and from other concepts like tend-and-befriend or the Yerkes-Dodson law, which describe different ideas about stress and performance.