Question

You are speeding down the highway and see the flashing lights of a police car in your rearview mirror. your heart begins to pound as you slow down, but the police car passes you in pursuit of someone else. your physical reaction occurs at which stage of the general adaptation syndrome?

Answer 1

The physical reaction you experience, in this case the pounding heart, occurs in the first stage of the syndrome: the alarm reaction stage.

The general adaptation syndrome, as described by researcher Hans Selye, describes the physiological changes the body goes through when under stress. It is a three step process:

Alarm reaction stage: This is the stage where the initial physical reactions occur, such as an increased heart rate or a rush of adrenaline.

Resistance stage: At this stage, the body tries to counteract the changes caused in the first stage. Your heart rate, hormones and blood pressure begin to normalize.

Exhaustion stage: If the resistance stage goes on for too long, it can lead to the exhaustion stage. When stress is chronic, it can lead to your body suffering from anxiety, depression, burnout and even weaken your immune system.