What term describes the body's response to stress that includes alarm, reaction, resistance, and recovery stages?

The term that describes the body's response to stress, encompassing the stages of alarm, reaction, resistance, and recovery, is known as General Adaptation Syndrome. This concept, developed by Hans Selye, outlines how the body goes through specific physiological changes in response to stressors.

In the initial alarm phase, the body recognizes a stressor and activates the fight-or-flight response, releasing hormones such as adrenaline. This is followed by the resistance phase, where the body attempts to adapt to the ongoing stress. If the stress continues and the body cannot effectively manage it, it may enter the recovery phase, where it either returns to a state of equilibrium or, if the stress persists, can lead to exhaustion.

The other terms mentioned do not encapsulate the specific stages of physiological adaptation to stress like General Adaptation Syndrome does. For example, while coping mechanisms refer to strategies individuals use to manage stress, they do not describe a process that includes predefined physiological stages. Stress response model may imply a comprehensive mechanism but does not specifically refer to Selye’s documented stages. Lastly, homeostasis refers to the body’s ability to maintain stable internal conditions despite external changes, but it does not specifically outline the process of responding to stress in structured phases.