How is stress is like a ghost!

Stress is like a ghost!

In various respects stress is analogous to the comparison of a ghost! It is invisible! As with ghosts, there are various notions about the word itself. Some view stress as an environmental condition which exerts force on an individual. Others view stress as an individual's appraisal, or interpretation, of a situation. Many think of stress as an interaction between the individual and the demands of the environment. Finally, some think that stress is the lack of an individual's coping strategies.[1]

Hans Selye, the "father of stress" and author of a book titled, "The Stress of Life, [2] originally used the word "stress" to denote the effects of a force acting against a resistance. As previously stated of the various views of stress, Selye viewed stress as an environmental condition exerting pressure on an organism. He postulated that a generally overly adapted response by the organism could result in damage to the organism. He stated in somewhat ambiguous language that stress could be thought of as the "rate of wear and tear in the body." Selye decided to formulate an operational definition of stress and identified the precursors as stressors. He labeled the bodies overreaction to stress, as the ( G. A. S.) General Adaptation Syndrome, that developed into three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion..

Regardless or your point of view, stress, like ghosts, can be thought of as either good or bad. They have influence on us based upon the interpretation that we give them. Though the ghosts cannot be seen, often their effects can be felt and measured. As defined by Selye, the concept "stress" like the concept "ghost" can be labeled as Eustress or Distress, the former word referring to a good ghost and the later referring to a bad ghost..

Furthermore, the concept eustressor may be thought of as an observable event, or precursor, that we perceive as good and a distressor may refer to an event, or precursor, that we perceive as bad. Dr. Brian Luke Seaward coined the term (Neustress) [3] that referred to the concept stress that produces an inconsequential effect .

Answer the following questions:

1.What is your favorite ghost story? ( The word "ghost", may be interpreted literally or figuratively. Thus, the concept "ghost" may refer to any abstract noun, such as a "superstition" or "myth" that you believe exerts power over you.)

2.What are the elements?

3.What is the plot, .i.e., what is the outline of the story or what is the action of the story?

4.What is the outcome of the story?

5.Explain how the concept "ghost" is similar to the concept "stress"?

6. Can you see some of the effect how an abstract construct such as "stress" may exert influence over you depending upon what you believe? If you answered yes, or no, explain your reasoning.

[1] Click on hyperlink:

Cooper, Cary, Stress Research: Issues for the eighties, London: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., 1984, p.81
[2] Hans Selye, The Stress of Life, New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co.,1978
[3] Brian Luke Seaward, managing Stress: Principles and Strategies for Health and Wellbeing,3rd. ed., Boston: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2002, p.6

Home Page