The body's response to stress that begins with an alarm reaction, followed by a stage of reaction and resistance, and then recovery or exhaustion is called what?

• A. General Adaptation Syndrome
• B. Fight-or-Flight Response
• C. Acute Stress Reaction
• D. Homeostatic Response

Answer: (A)

General Adaptation Syndrome describes how the body responds to stress in three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. At first, the alarm reaction kicks in with a fight-or-flight response—adrenaline and cortisol are released, heart rate and blood pressure rise, and energy stores are mobilized. Then the stage of resistance unfolds as the body tries to cope with the stressor; hormones keep energy flowing and systems adjust to maintain function, though immune function may be dampened if the stress continues. If the stress persists, exhaustion sets in, resources become depleted, and vulnerability to illness or dysfunction increases. This sequence is the classic model that explains why prolonged stress can lead to lasting health effects. The other terms describe shorter or unrelated responses: the fight-or-flight description captures only the initial reaction, acute stress reaction refers to a sudden traumatic event response, and homeostatic response isn’t the formal model for this progression.