Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 2, 2026
09:07
Experimental Research Examining How People Can Cope with Uncertainty Through Soft Haptic Sensations
Published on: September 16, 2015
Stress: clarification of a confused concept
1Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
International Journal of Psychosomatics : Official Publication of the International Psychosomatics Institute
|January 1, 1995
Summary
This study reviews historical and current stress definitions, presenting an updated stress concept based on new findings. It clarifies the evolving understanding of stress in scientific literature.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Physiology
- Stress Research
Background:
- The concept of stress has evolved significantly since early definitions.
- Pioneering work by Cannon and Selye laid the foundation for understanding stress responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive review of stress definitions.
- To present an updated, contemporary definition of stress informed by recent research.
Main Methods:
- Review of dictionary definitions.
- Historical analysis of stress concepts from key researchers.
- Synthesis of current scientific literature on stress.
- Integration of novel findings into a revised stress model.
Main Results:
- Documented evolution of stress definitions over time.
- Identified key shifts in the conceptualization of stress.
- Presented a new, updated definition of the stress concept.
Conclusions:
- The understanding of stress is dynamic and requires continuous re-evaluation.
- An updated stress concept is crucial for current research and application.
- This work offers a refined framework for defining and studying stress.
More Related Videos
06:45Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal
Published on: April 18, 2017
05:22Dissociation of the Confounding Influences of Expectancy and Integrative Difficulty Residing in Anomalous Sentences in Event-related Potential Studies
Published on: May 9, 2019
Related Concept Videos
01:38Cognitive Dissonance
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
01:37Social Loafing
Another way in which a group presence can affect performance is social loafing—the exertion of less effort by a person working together with a group. Social loafing occurs when our individual performance cannot be evaluated separately from the group. Thus, group performance declines on easy tasks (Karau & Williams, 1993). Essentially individual group members loaf and let other group members pick up the slack. Because each individual’s efforts cannot be evaluated, individuals become less...
01:24Stress Concentrations
Stress concentration is when stress intensifies near discontinuities such as holes or abrupt cross-sectional changes in a structural member. This localized stress can often surpass the average stress within the member. The stress distribution in flat bars, either with a circular hole or varying widths connected by fillets, can be determined experimentally using a photoelastic method. The results are based on ratios of geometric parameters like the ratio of the hole's radius to the smaller width...
01:13Stress Concentrations
The concept of stress concentration is crucial for understanding how materials respond under bending stresses, particularly when there are irregularities or discontinuities in the material's geometry. Normally, stress in a symmetric member subjected to pure bending is assumed to be uniformly distributed across the entire cross-section. However, this assumption does not hold when there are variations in the cross-sectional geometry or the presence of notches and holes.
The stress concentration...
The stress concentration...
01:20Frustration and Conflict: Approach-Approach, Approach-Avoidance
Frustration occurs when people are obstructed or prevented from achieving a desired goal or fulfilling a perceived need. For example, when someone's input is ignored in a discussion, it can lead to feelings of frustration. Conflict, however, arises from opposing interests, goals, or actions. Conflicts can take various forms based on the nature of these opposing desires or goals.
One common type of conflict is the Approach–Approach Conflict. In this case, a person faces two desirable options,...
One common type of conflict is the Approach–Approach Conflict. In this case, a person faces two desirable options,...
01:14Frustration and Conflict: Avoidance-Avoidance, Double-Approach Avoidance
Avoidance-avoidance conflict refers to a psychological situation where a person must choose between two or more unpleasant alternatives. These conflicts are particularly stressful because neither option is desirable. This dilemma is often expressed in sayings like "caught between a rock and a hard place" or "between the devil and the deep blue sea." For instance, individuals who fear dental procedures may find themselves torn between enduring a painful toothache or facing the anxiety of...