Explain the resistance phase of the general adaptation syndrome

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answer: As a stressor continues, the body mobilizes homeostatic mechanisms that make it more resistant to the stressor. For example, the first time you hike a strenuous trail, you're likely to experience significant physical distress. But if you were to hike that trail twice weekly, you'd soon adapt to its demands and it would no longer set off the alarm phase. Even with stressors that aren't primarily physical, you can develop strategies that increase your level of resistance and help you adapt. For instance, if you're a college freshman, you might feel stress hormones pouring into your bloodstream as you sit down to take your first mid-term exam. But over time, repetition helps you perceive the situation as more familiar (and thus less like a "change"). Moreover, you learn that, when you study thoroughly, you do well. Building this "track record" of success also helps calm your nerves. Finally, over time, you may learn a set of stretches, breathing techniques, or motivational phrases to keep you relaxed during exams. As a result of your growing familiarity with the situation, your confidence in your preparation, and your use of coping mechanisms, the jolt of stress you feel as you walk toward the exam room is likely to actually improve your performance by keeping you alert and focused.