What does Selye's general adaptation syndrome describe?

• A. The general adaptation syndrome outlines stages through which the body adapts or fails to adapt
• B. It only describes the alarm stage
• C. It is a theory about muscle hypertrophy
• D. It applies only to non-human animals

Answer: (A)

The concept being tested is how the body's response to stress unfolds over time. Selye's general adaptation syndrome describes a sequence of bodily responses to prolonged stress, not just a single reaction. It includes three stages: alarm, where the body first reacts with a fight-or-flight response; resistance, where it attempts to cope by sustaining hormonal activity and resources; and exhaustion, where persistent stress depletes resources and vulnerability increases. This framework shows that the body can either adapt and maintain function or fail to adapt and deteriorate if stress continues. It’s a broad model applicable to humans and other animals, not limited to one stage, and not about muscle hypertrophy. That’s why the description of outlining stages through which the body adapts or fails to adapt is the best fit.