Ensayos Cortos

stress:
A Brief History

Blackwell Brief Histories of Psychology
The Blackwell Brief Histories of Psychology offer concise, accessible,
and lively accounts of key topics within psychology, such as
emotion, intelligence, and stress, that have had a profound effect
on psychological and cultural life. The books in this series provide a rich sense of historical context while remaininggrounded
in contemporary issues and research that will be of interest to
both academic and general readers.
Stress: A Brief History
Cary Cooper and Philip Dewe
Evolutionary Thought in Psychology: A Brief History
Henry Plotkin
Emotions: A Brief History
Keith Oatley
Intelligence: A Brief History
Robert J. Sternberg and Anna T. Cianciolo

s tress
A Brief History
CARY L. COOPER
AND PHILIPDEWE

ß 2004 by Cary L. Cooper and Philip Dewe
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First published 2004 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataCooper, Cary L.
A brief history of stress / Cary L. Cooper and Philip Dewe.—1st ed.
p. cm.—(Blackwell brief histories of psychology; 1)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1–4051–0744–8 (alk. paper)—ISBN 1–4051–0745–6 (pbk : alk. paper)
1. Stress (Psychology)—Research—Methodology—History. I. Dewe,
Philip. II Title. III. Series.
BF575.S75C646 2004
155.90 0420 09—dc22
2003023501A catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.
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To Rachel Davies Cooper and Linda TrenberthContents

Acknowledgments

CHAPTER 1 FROM EARLY BEGINNINGS TO THE
TWENTIETH CENTURY

Introduction
Hooke’s Law and the Engineering Analogy
The Eighteenth Century and Beyond
Summary: Themes from the Eighteenth and
Nineteenth Centuries

x

1

1
3
4
7

CHAPTER 2 THE TWENTIETH CENTURY: THE EARLY YEARS

9

Introduction
The Emergence of the School of Functionalism
Fatigueand Mental Hygiene
Psychosomatic Medicine and the Contribution of
Walter Cannon
Hans Selye
The Work of Harold Wolff
Summary

9
10
11

CHAPTER 3 THE TWENTIETH CENTURY:
FROM THE 1950s TO RICHARD LAZARUS

Introduction: Stress in the 1950s and 1960s
Stressful Life Events
The Social Readjustment Scale
Daily Hassles and Uplifts and the Debate that
Followed

13
20
33
36

3939
41
43
46

viii Contents
The Debate: Critical Life Events versus Hassles and
Uplifts
Personality and Type A Behavior Patterns
Towards the Study of Individual Differences
A Return to the 1950s and 1960s and a Change in Focus
The History of Stress in Sweden
The Origins of Organizational Psychology
Summary
CHAPTER 4 THE WORK OF RICHARD LAZARUS

Introduction
The Beginnings
TheBerkeley Stress and Coping Project
A Historical Look at Appraisal
The Nature of Appraisals and the Debate that
Followed
Lazarus and the Process View of Coping
Ways of Coping Questionnaire
Lazarus and Emotions
Summary
CHAPTER 5 WORK STRESS AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
PSYCHOLOGY

Introduction
Work Stress
Role Conflict, Role Ambiguity, and the Search for
Causes of Work Stress
Beyond Role...