Stress

Abstract

Over the last twenty-five years, various theories about the nature of stress have evolved. The earlier theories favour seeing stress as psychosomatic, e.g., the belief that chronic anger will eventually result in ulcers. A later theory focuses on the environment rather than the person, and states that if anyone is put in a particularly stressful situation they will develop symptoms of stress. Yet another theory examines the relationship between stress and the body’s hormonal and glandular reaction, ignoring environmental stimulus altogether.