3B

• Biological processes relate to physiological experiences that occur in the body, such as immune system functioning and the release of hormones
• General Adaption Syndrome (GAS): a biological model involving three stages of physiological reactions that a person experiences in response to a persistent stressor
• three stages: alarm reaction, resistance, and exhaustion
• GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME

  A) shock

  B) counter shock

  C) alarm reaction

  D) resistance

  E) exhaustion

  F) resistance

  
• Alarm reaction: the first stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome involving the initial decrease and subsequent increase in bodily arousal in response to an immediate stressor

  
  

  - occurs when an individual first encounters and becomes aware of a stressor.
• Shock: 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

  - the body reacts as though it has been injured, as biological processes within the body fall below normal functioning.

  - example body temperature decreases
• When a person enters shock, their levels of bodily arousal, and therefore their ability to deal with the stressor, are reduced to below normal. This lasts only for a relatively brief period of time before the person enters the second substage of the GAS
• Counter shock is the second substage of the alarm reaction stage in which sympathetic nervous system responses occur that mobilise the body to respond to the stressor.

  - During this substage, the activation of the sympathetic nervous system causes physiological reactions to occur.

  - For example, heart rate increases and stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, are released into the bloodstream. This energises the body to confront and respond to the stressor
• Resistance the second stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome involves maintaining high levels of bodily arousal in response to a persistent stressor

  - Resistance is an adaptive stage because the body adjusts to the physiological changes that occurred during counter shock, including increased hormone levels and increased bodily arousal. These sympathetic nervous system responses decrease in intensity as the body attempts to stabilise its internal environment
• When a person enters resistance, the majority of their energy is directed towards confronting the stressor. Therefore, while resistance to the initial stressor increases, resistance to subsequent stressors that may arise decreases.

  - the prolonged presence of stress hormones in the bloodstream, particularly cortisol, begins to suppress immune system functioning, which increases susceptibility to illness.

  - However, the individual is still able to cope with the demands of the initial stressor
• During resistance, bodily resources are used at an increased rate to maintain the state of heightened arousal. These resources are eventually depleted, causing the individual to progress from resistance to exhaustion
• Exhaustion: 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
• - by time of exhaustion exposure to stressor has bene prolonged and persistent

  - body is required to maintain heightened biological state, the body become unable to maintain these heightened levels of physiological arousal because body resources such as energy and stress hormones have been depleted

  - person experiencing exhaustion can no longer cope with the demands of the stressor and is also unequipped to confront any other stressors that may arise.
• when a person enters exhaustion, cortisol and other stress hormones have been present in the bloodstream for a prolonged period of time, suppressing immune system functioning. Therefore, a person in exhaustion becomes vulnerable to both physiological and psychological illnesses. They may experience extreme fatigue, high blood pressure, sickness, anxiety, depression, or emotional instability. They are also more susceptible to serious chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease
• STRENGTHS OF THE GAS MODEL

  • The GAS recognises a predictable pattern of physiological responses associated with distinct stages and substages, which can be measured in individuals.
  • The GAS recognises the relationship between chronic stress and illness.
  • The GAS provides objective, empirical information about the biological processes involved in the stress response
• LIMITATIONS OF THE GAS MODEL

  • The GAS is based on research that was conducted on rats, reducing the generalisability of the model to the human population.
  • The GAS only focuses on the biological aspects of stress. It ignores the importance of psychological factors, including emotion and cognition, in the stress response.
  • The GAS prescribes a uniform model that is the same for every individual in response to all stressors. Therefore, it fails to recognise the subjective nature of the stress response, meaning that different people respond to different stressors in unique ways.