Final answer:
Selye GAS is a model by Hans Selye that describes the body's physiological response to stress through three stages: the alarm reaction, stage of resistance, and stage of exhaustion, leading to potential health issues if prolonged stress occurs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Study 1: Selye GAS (General Adaptation Syndrome) refers to Dr. Hans Selye’s model of the body's physical response to stress, which includes the progression through three distinctive stages: alarm reaction, stage of resistance, and stage of exhaustion. The alarm reaction is the initial phase where the body reacts immediately to a stressor, engaging in the fight-or-flight response, primarily governed by hormones like epinephrine and norepinephrine. This is followed by the stage of resistance, where if the stressor continues, the body adapts and tries to resist or cope with the stress. However, if the stress persists for too long, the body enters the stage of exhaustion, where long-term stress depletes the body's resources, leading to a decrease in function and the potential onset of health problems, potentially including issues like hypertension and coronary artery disease. This model emphasizes the physiological impact of stress and is crucial in understanding how sustained stress can lead to physical illness.
Selye's GAS model is considered a milestone in health psychology and stress research despite its focus on physiological aspects and less on psychological factors. It has laid the foundational understanding for how the body responds to prolonged stress, thus having a significant impact on related medical and health fields.