The physiology of stress, including general adaptation syndrome (GAS)
When the body faces a threat, it goes through a predictable sequence of physical responses. Hans Selye called this three-stage sequence the general adaptation syndrome (GAS).
Real World
During the 2008 financial crisis, emergency workers responding to the Lehman Brothers collapse reported sustained physical exhaustion weeks after the acute crisis — a real-world parallel to Selye's exhaustion stage.
Exam Focus
Name all three GAS stages in order and link each to a physiological change; omitting the exhaustion stage is the most common mark-losing error.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
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