Final answer:
The General Adaptation Syndrome describes the body's three-stage response to stress, comprising the alarm reaction, the stage of resistance, and the stage of exhaustion, which can lead to health issues if stress is prolonged (4).
Step-by-step explanation:
General Adaptation Syndrome and Stress Response
The General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), developed by Hans Selye, describes the body's response and adaptation to stressors through a three-stage process: alarm reaction, stage of resistance, and stage of exhaustion. The first stage, the alarm reaction, activates the body's immediate reaction to stress, similar to the fight-or-flight response, involving a surge of hormones such as epinephrine and norepinephrine. The stage of resistance is where the body attempts to return to homeostasis while still responding to the stressor. If the stress persists, the body may enter the stage of exhaustion, where resources are depleted, and health problems can develop.
This syndrome explains how repeated or prolonged stress can lead to adverse health outcomes like hypertension and coronary artery disease, as the body's capacity to cope with stress diminishes over time. While GAS primarily focuses on the physiological aspects of stress, it does not address the psychological elements such as threat interpretation and emotional responses.