In the General Adaptation Syndrome, what is the stage that follows the initial alarm response?

In the General Adaptation Syndrome, what is the stage that follows the initial alarm response?

• A. Reaction and Resistance
• B. Recovery
• C. Exhaustion
• D. Alarm Response

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is how the body responds to stress in stages. After the initial alarm reaction, the body moves into a period of adaptation and sustained effort to cope with the stress—this is the resistance (or adaptation) stage. During this phase, physiological arousal remains elevated as resources are mobilized to deal with the stressor, helping to restore balance and maintain function despite ongoing stress. If the stress continues for a long time, those resources can wear down, leading to exhaustion. So the stage that follows the alarm response is the resistance/adaptation phase, which in some phrasing is captured by the term “Reaction and Resistance.” That’s why that option is considered best here. The other choices don’t fit: recovery is not a distinct GAS stage, the alarm response is the initial stage, and exhaustion is the final stage after prolonged stress.

The key idea here is how the body responds to stress in stages. After the initial alarm reaction, the body moves into a period of adaptation and sustained effort to cope with the stress—this is the resistance (or adaptation) stage. During this phase, physiological arousal remains elevated as resources are mobilized to deal with the stressor, helping to restore balance and maintain function despite ongoing stress. If the stress continues for a long time, those resources can wear down, leading to exhaustion.

So the stage that follows the alarm response is the resistance/adaptation phase, which in some phrasing is captured by the term “Reaction and Resistance.” That’s why that option is considered best here. The other choices don’t fit: recovery is not a distinct GAS stage, the alarm response is the initial stage, and exhaustion is the final stage after prolonged stress.