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Stress Response (GAS Model)
AP Psychology · Unit 8 Clinical Psychology
Learning Objectives
GAS: Hans Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome describes the body's 3-phase response to prolonged stress: Alarm → Resistance → Exhaustion.
Alarm: Fight-or-flight response activates. Sympathetic nervous system releases adrenaline/cortisol. Heart rate ↑, blood pressure ↑.
Resistance: Body adapts and copes with the stressor. Cortisol levels remain elevated. Resources are being depleted gradually.
Exhaustion: Prolonged stress depletes resources → immune system weakens, diseases emerge, burnout. The body can no longer maintain resistance.
Tags
StressGASCortisolFight-or-Flight
GAS Phase
PHYSIOLOGICAL STATE
AP Connection: GAS connects to the HPA axis (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal), psychoneuroimmunology, and explains how chronic stress leads to physical illness. Also know Lazarus's cognitive appraisal theory as an alternative stress model.