Stress and Welfare: History and Usage of Concepts

Abstract

This chapter clarifies previous and current usage of the words in the title of this book. The ways in which the term stress has been used in physics, psychol- ogy, psychiatry and general biology are discussed in detail. Using diagrams, response changes over time and their consequences are considered. The terms stereotypy and quality of life are defined. The authors’ view of the optimal use of stress and welfare is presented. A key part of the discussion of welfare concerns how to promote good welfare. In order to do this, and to avoid poor welfare, general principles of methods for assessing welfare in a quantitative and objective way are explained. The relationships between welfare and: suffering, stress, naturalness, quality of life, a life worth living, and sentience are discussed. Equivalent words to welfare in different languages are considered.