An individual who is awakened in the middle of the night by the discovery that their house is on fire is experiencing the alarm reaction stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome.

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The alarm reaction is the initial stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome, representing the body's immediate physiological response to a perceived threat. This phase is characterized by the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which triggers the release of adrenaline from the adrenal glands. This hormonal surge initiates the fight-or-flight response, leading to physiological changes like an accelerated heart rate and increased respiration. Concurrently, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis also becomes active to help manage the stressor.

General Adaptation Syndrome: Alarm Reaction

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

A person is hiking in the woods and suddenly comes face-to-face with a large bear. In the first few moments after seeing the bear, which of the following physiological responses would be most characteristic of the body's immediate reaction to this perceived threat?

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