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Showing papers on "Stressor published in 1976"


Journal Article
TL;DR: An overview of the main problems and misconceptions in the clinical application and theoretic evaluation of the stress concept reveals that the same 10 problems appear to cause the greatest difficulties in its application.
Abstract: An overview of the main problems and misconceptions in the clinical application and theoretic evaluation of the stress concept reveals that the same 10 problems appear to cause the greatest difficulties in its application, irrespective of the specialty in which it is used: (1) the correct definition of stress, stressors and the general adaptation syndrome; (2) the concept of nonspecificity in biology and medicine; (3) the conditioning of stress responses by diverse endogenous (mainly genetically determined) and exogenous (environmental) factors; (4) the relation between the genral and the local adaptation syndromes; (5) the difference between direct and indirect pathogens; (6) the definition of the morbid lesions in whose pathogenesis stress plays a particularly prominent role--the so-called diseases of adaptation; (7) the role of genetics versus that of factors under voluntary self-control in mastering biologic stress; (8) the mode of action of syntoxic and catatoxic hormones, drugs and behavioural attitudes; (9) the so-called first mediator of the stress response, which carries the message that a state of stress exists from the directly affected area to the neurohormonal regulatory centres; and (10) the prophylaxis and treatment of stress-induced damage by pharmacologic and behavioural techniques.

446 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results indicated that level of appraised cope efficacy had the most pronounced effect during stressor exposure and that the pattern of this effect was dependent on whether the source of the appraised coping resources was "personal" or "environmental" (a bogus technique donated by the experimenter).
Abstract: The present study examined the effects of initial appraisal of stimulus aversiveness and coping adequacy on subsequent evidence of stress. Results indicated that level of appraised coping efficacy had the most pronounced effect during stressor exposure and that the pattern of this effect was dependent on whether the source of the appraised coping resources was "personal" (the subject's own resources) or "environmental" (a bogus technique donated by the experimenter). In addition, information about personal resources reduced the pre- to poststressor increment in state anxiety and lessened cognitive avoidance of stressor-related stimuli. Results were discussed with respect to differential sensitivity of components of stress response to variation in environmental versus personal sources of coping efficacy, and the specific aspects of cognitive structuring associated with variation in physiological reaction (muscle tension) were noted. The importance of factors associated with appraised coping efficacy was clearly supported, but factors involving the objective (in contrast to defensive) aspects of appraised stressor potency required further investigation, and suggestions for such future research were made.

35 citations


Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 1976
TL;DR: Mason et al. as mentioned in this paper defined stress as a specific set of physiological responses, such as increased thyroid, thyroidal, growth hormone, adrenal medullary and insulin activity as well as pituitary-adrenal cortical changes.
Abstract: It does not require a very extensive exposure to the relevant literature to appreciate the apparent impossibility of defining stress very rigorously (Mason, 1975a). Stress cannot be defined in terms of the physical properties of the eliciting stimulus as cognitive and emotional factors can change the impact of any stimulus on the same person or animal (Lazarus, 1967; Mason, 1975b). It is equally difficult to define stress as a specific set of physiological responses. Lacey (1967), for instance, has repeatedly pointed out that each “stressor” tends to elicit its own automatic response pattern, while at the same time there is a tendency for individuals to have unique physiological response profiles. Mason (1975b), who measures gonadal, thyroidal, growth hormone, adrenal medullary and insulin activity as well as pituitary-adrenal cortical changes, also emphasizes the specific adaptive pattern of hormone response depending upon the type of stress. Selye’s (1974) definition of stress as the nonspecific response of the body to any demand (whether pleasant or unpleasant) is likely to be too broad (and also too restricting in its focus on only a few responses) to continue to be useful in the future. Perhaps, agreement can be reached only on a very general statement such as an organism is subjected to stress when its adaptive mechanisms are taxed beyond their normal range of functioning either because of the intensity or the duration of the response required. In spite of the difficulty in defining stress, there may still be value in bracketing a field that concentrates on the consequences of straining adaptive mechanisms. Certainly, Selye (1956) has proven the value of such a focus in his highly productive career.

21 citations


01 Jan 1976
TL;DR: A review of the literature on the Protestant Ethic Effect Statement of the Problem Method can be found in this paper, with a focus on the problem method and its application in the literature.
Abstract: . . • . . • Review of the Literature Protestant Ethic Effect Statement of the Problem Method .. .

2 citations