The resistance stage occurs when exposure to a stressor is prolonged. In this phase, the body has adapted to the stressor and the initial shock of the alarm reaction has subsided. However, the body remains on high alert, prepared to respond to the stressor, though with less intensity than during the alarm stage.

General Adaption Syndrome: Resistance Stage

In his foundational research on stress, Hans Selye identified a distinct trio of physiological changes in rats subjected to prolonged stressors. These observable signs consisted of adrenal gland enlargement, shrinkage of the thymus and lymph nodes, and the formation of stomach ulcerations.

Physiological Signs of Prolonged Stress in Selye's Rat Studies

A central principle of Hans Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome is that the body's physiological response to stress is nonspecific. This means that the same pattern of coordinated reactions is triggered regardless of the particular type of stressor. For instance, the body reacts similarly whether the stress comes from extreme cold, physical injury, or excessive muscular exercise.

Nonspecificity of the General Adaptation Syndrome

The alarm reaction is the initial stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome, representing the body's immediate physiological response to a perceived threat. This phase is characterized by the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which triggers the release of adrenaline from the adrenal glands. This hormonal surge initiates the fight-or-flight response, leading to physiological changes like an accelerated heart rate and increased respiration. Concurrently, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis also becomes active to help manage the stressor.

General Adaptation Syndrome: Alarm Reaction

The General Adaptation Syndrome is often illustrated with a graph that plots stress resistance against time. The horizontal x-axis represents the duration of exposure to a stressor, while the vertical y-axis represents the level of stress resistance. The curve on the graph demonstrates the progression through the three stages: an initial dip during the alarm reaction, a sustained high level during resistance, and a final decline into exhaustion, showing that prolonged stress eventually depletes the body's ability to cope.

Graphical Representation of the General Adaptation Syndrome

The exhaustion stage is the final phase of the General Adaptation Syndrome, occurring when exposure to a stressor is prolonged. In this stage, the body's capacity to adapt is depleted, and its resistance to stress is exhausted due to the cumulative physical wear on its tissues and organs. This depletion can lead to severe health consequences, including illness, disease, permanent physical damage, and potentially death.

General Adaptation Syndrome: Exhaustion Stage

Despite its limitations, Hans Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome model has had a significant influence on the field of stress. Its primary contribution is providing a general framework that explains the mechanism by which stress can cause physical damage and lead to disease.

Impact of the General Adaptation Syndrome Theory

Prolonged or repeated exposure to stressors, as conceptualized by the General Adaptation Syndrome, has been implicated as a contributing factor in the development of several serious health disorders. Specific conditions linked to this type of chronic stress include hypertension and coronary artery disease.

Link Between Prolonged Stress and Disease

A primary limitation of the General Adaptation Syndrome model is its conceptualization as a purely response-based theory of stress. It concentrates exclusively on the body's physiological reactions and largely overlooks the role of psychological factors, such as an individual's cognitive appraisal and interpretation of threatening situations.

Shortcomings of the General Adaptation Syndrome Theory

Developed by endocrinologist Hans Selye, the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) describes the body's consistent physiological reactions to stress. The theory posits that this response occurs in three stages, regardless of the specific stressor: the alarm reaction, where initial fight-or-flight reactions begin; the resistance stage, where the body adapts to continuing stress; and the exhaustion stage, where the body's adaptive energy is depleted and stress begins to take a physical toll.

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Stress is a complex phenomenon that affects individuals in various ways. The study of stress has led to the development of several theories that attempt to explain its causes and effects.

Theories of stress

Hans Selye, who became one of the world's leading experts on stress, made a foundational discovery in the 1930s while working at McGill University. His research, originally focused on sex hormones in rats, took an unexpected turn when he observed that prolonged exposure to various negative stimuli—including extreme cold, surgical injury, excessive exercise, and shock—produced a consistent set of physiological changes. These changes included adrenal enlargement, shrinkage of the thymus and lymph nodes, and stomach ulceration. This accidental finding led him to identify and develop the theory of the General Adaptation Syndrome.

Hans Selye

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

 This theory was proposed by Richard Lazarus and Susan Folkman in 1984. According to this theory, stress is a result of the interaction between the individual and the environment. The individual's appraisal of the stressor, their perceived ability to cope, and their emotional response all contribute to their level of stress. Coping strategies such as problem-solving, emotional regulation, and social support can help to reduce stress.

The Transactional Model of Stress and Coping

This model is based on the idea that stress is not just a result of external events but also of internal psychological processes. According to this model, stress arises from a mismatch between an individual's perceived demands and their perceived ability to cope with those demands. The model suggests that individual differences in personality, coping strategies, and social support can influence an individual's response to stress.

The Psychosocial Stress Model

Taylor et al.'s "Tend and Befriend" theory propose that in response to stress, women are more likely to engage in nurturing and affiliative behaviors aimed at protecting themselves and their offspring, rather than the fight or flight response typically associated with stress. The theory suggests that this tendency evolved as a way to increase the chances of survival for women and their offspring. The tend and befriend response involves seeking social support, building alliances, and forming nurturing relationships as a way to reduce stress and increase feelings of safety and security.

Taylor et. al Tend and Befriend theory

A theory of emotion proposing that our emotional responses to a stimulus are determined by our cognitive appraisal of that stimulus. According to this theory, when we encounter a potential stressor, we engage in a process of appraisal where we evaluate the situation in terms of its potential harm, threat, or challenge. Based on this appraisal, we then generate emotional responses such as fear, anger, or excitement.

Lazarus's Cognitive-Mediational Theory

Walter Cannon's theory posits that in response to a perceived threat, the body activates the sympathetic nervous system, triggering a cascade of physiological changes. Cannon viewed this response as a fundamental, built-in mechanism for maintaining homeostasis, the body's stable internal environment. He considered it an adaptive function that prepares an individual to either fight or flee, enabling them to adjust to environmental threats and ultimately enhance their chances of survival.

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