Tuesday, 18 March 2008

Psychology: Stress

What is GAS?
The General Adaptation: The idea that stress responces are similar amongst and animals and humans.
The GAS has three stages:
1)ALARM STAGE: situation of stress is registered
--HYPOTHALAMUS PITUITARY ADRENAL CORTEX: (HPAC): ADRENOCOTOCOSTEROIDS hormones and CORTOCOSTEROIDS are released
--HYPOTHALAMIC- ADRENAL NERVOUS SYSTEM- MEDULLA CORTEX
ADRENALINE/NORADRENALINE hormones released

2)RESISTENCE STAGE: stress response activiated coping with stressor

3)EXHAUSTION STAGE: If stressor lasts for too long
----> hormone reserves have been over used (resulting in stress ulcers e.g.)

GAS Evaluation:
1)EXPERIMENTAL SUPPORT: Selye was first to experiment this
2)USE OF NON HUMAN ANIMAL
3)INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES: GAS doesn't take this into account


Our bodies aren't made for modern day stessors

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