Constitutional Differences in Physiologic Adaptation to Stress and Distress

Abstract

Because of the widespread confusion about the definition of the term “stress,” we shall use the definition as stated by Selye in his latest writings: “Stress is the non-specific response of the body to any demand made upon it” (Selye, 1971). In this sense, stress represents a reaction of a living organism to any stimuli which would tend to disturb the homeokinetic state or which would tend to satisfy the particular drives (needs) of the organism at a particular time.