Final answer:
The statement is false; resistance is the second stage, not the first, of the general adaptation syndrome (GAS). The three stages are alarm reaction, resistance, and exhaustion, with resistance as the body's adaptation phase to prolonged stress.
Step-by-step explanation:
Resistance is not the first stage of the stress experience; therefore, the statement is false. According to the concept of the general adaptation syndrome (GAS) developed by Hans Selye, there are three stages to the body's physiological reaction to stress: (1) the alarm reaction, (2) the stage of resistance, and (3) the stage of exhaustion. The alarm reaction is characterised by the body's immediate reaction to a stressor, akin to the fight-or-flight response, and involves a myriad of physiological changes to provide energy to cope with the stressor. The stage of resistance follows the alarm reaction and is the body's attempt to adapt to the stress if it persists, reducing the intensity of the initial response but still in a state of alert. The final stage, exhaustion, occurs if the stress continues for a prolonged period leading to depletion of the body's resources.