Excerpts:
As one reviews the literature, it becomes apparent that many authors
(10-12) have recognized the need for a more precise definition and theory of stress and have occasionally called
for a moratorium on stress research until the confusion is resolved (13). [JLJ - I bet this moratorium on stress research
caused a lot of stress.]
One of the most apparent implications of the theory is that organisms
are genetically predisposed to adapt to stress. If, in fact, this is the case, then "exhaustion" must actually be
some other process. Selye (46) felt that if a stressor were chronic, an organism would, at some point, fail to adapt due to
exhaustion of adaptation energy. The stage of exhaustion was marked by the illness or death of the organism. In the proposed
theory, illness or death would also be consequent to a failure to adapt, but would not result from an exhaustion of resources.
Rather it would result from another cause (psychological or physiological) which prevented adaptation.
An integrative theory of the stress response was presented and shown to
be a useful tool for analyzing results of a variety of studies. This theory, based on learning and evolutionary
principles, states that organisms are predisposed to adapt to chronic intermittent stress.
Adaptation is achieved by anticipation of the stressor and decreased responsivity.
