What is the Origin of Survival Mechanism?

This concept is foundational to evolutionary biology and stress physiology, tracing back to the work of Hans Selye on the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) in the mid-20th century. The term is clinically used to describe the body's predictable metabolic and hormonal deceleration in response to chronic dieting or psychological stress.

What is the Mechanism of Survival Mechanism?

Activation involves the rapid release of cortisol and catecholamines, which mobilize glucose and fatty acids for immediate energy use, preparing the body for "fight or flight." In a state of chronic perceived scarcity, the mechanism downregulates energy-intensive processes by suppressing thyroid hormone production and leptin signaling. This hormonal shift drastically lowers the basal metabolic rate, promoting energy conservation and increasing the propensity for fat storage.

Survival Mechanism

Meaning

A collection of highly conserved, adaptive physiological and neuroendocrine responses activated by the body in the face of perceived threat, caloric scarcity, or severe physiological stress. These mechanisms, primarily mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system, prioritize immediate survival and energy conservation over non-essential functions like reproduction or long-term growth. It represents the body’s default setting for navigating perceived danger or chronic resource restriction.