The Biological Approach; Selye's GAS

Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome describes how the body adapts to stressors.
As a doctor he notices that patients with a variety of illnesses all shared certain symptoms. Later in his career while researching the effects of hormones on rats he notices that they too shared certain responses regardless of the hormones they were given.
These observations led him to develop his theory by exposing rats to various stressors such as extreme temperatures and surgical injury and monitoring their physiological responses.
Alarm
1. The stressor activates the hypothalamus which triggers the HPA Axis and the autonomic nervous system
2. The ANS causes adrenaline production which leads to readiness for "fight or flight".
3. Physiological reactions; increased heart and breathing rate, release of sugars to generate engery. If stressor disappears, body returns to normal.
Resistance
1. If the stressor persists, the body continues producing adrenaline and cortisol. Attempting to adapt to the stressor the PNS cuts in and the body appears to cope. Elevated hormone levels take their toll and the body's ability to resist diminishes.
2. Physiological Reactions; increased blood pressure, sugars now stored to conserve energy. The HPA axis is heavily involved in the first two stages as it governs the physiological response to stress.
Exhaustion
1. If the stressor persists hormone levels remain high, the body can no longer cope.
2. Physiological Reactions; Damaged adrenal glands, a weakened immune system. As a result defences become less effective and stress related illnesses occur such as heart disease and ulcers. Selye's rats died.

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The Biological Approach; Selye's GAS

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