General Adaptation Syndrome - Stress

Psychology

What does the transactional model of stress state

That what we perceive in a situation is crucial to our experience of stress

Two parts of transactional model of stress

1. Perceived demands the world is placing on us

2. Perception of our own coping ability

Selye’s GAS AO1 points

• stress is psychological

• Body is adapting to a stressor

• Prologued stress leads to illness

Three stages of Selye’s GAS

1. Alarm reaction (stressor is perceived)

2. Resistance (resits stressor)

3. Exhaustion (body struggles with chronic stress so has physical/emotional/mental resources)

Procedure of Selye GAS study

Exposed rats to ‘acute’ unpleasant stressors. Concluded that they must be experiencing a more general state of stress.

Weakness (Mason study) AO3 + h/e

Mason replicated the study with monkeys, finding differences in their level of stress based on the stressor. Measured by cortisol levels. (H/e - using non-human animals to support research is not reliable, ignore emotional and cognitive factors)

Weakness (individual differences) AO3

GAS suggests that human responses to stressors are the same for all people, Mason argued that when we are presented with a stressor, we make an assessment of the situation.

Strength (application) AO3

Selye’s model was the first to accurately describe the physiological changes that occur during the stress response. This led to further research in the negative effects of stress on health