Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome Quiz

Shanvi has worked for many years as a doctor in a busy emergency ward. She has been working long, stressful shifts. Recently, her own doctor diagnosed her with a digestive illness. At the time of the diagnosis, what stage of Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome was Shanvi most likely in and why?

• shock stage, because her ability to deal with the stress of the diagnosis has fallen below normal

• resistance stage, because her body is continuously producing cortisol, which is suppressing her immune system

• alarm reaction stage, because the diagnosis of a chronic illness has caused the 'fight-flight-freeze' response

• exhaustion stage, because her body can no longer cope with her job and she has developed a serious illness

Interpret the results of each group with reference to Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome. Include the following diagram as a reference for the question:

On the diagram below, draw a graphical representation of Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome to show how an individual typically reacts to a stressor.

In the boxes provided on the diagram below, label the three stages that occur according to Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome.

Identify what stage of Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome Bob was in when he started frequently catching colds. Justify your response.

After working in this highly stressful environment for many years, Bob was diagnosed with a heart condition that required surgery. Explain which stage of Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome Bob was experiencing when he was diagnosed with a heart condition.

One limitation of Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome as a scientific model for stress is that it:

• has stages that are specific and time dependent.

• takes into account individual differences in physiological responses to a stressor.

• cannot be researched experimentally due to the subjective nature of the stress response.

• assumes shock and counter shock are separate processes even though they can occur simultaneously.

Which one of the following is the most accurate description of the role of cortisol in the stress response, according to Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome?

• stops the immune system from functioning

• increases glucose in the bloodstream and reduces inflammation

• reactivates functions that are non-essential in a fight-flight response

• provides the initial alert about a perceived threat, through the release of adrenaline