Page 12 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 14

Steven L. Voss (USA) Ph.D., Hannibal-

A Holistic Perspective of LaGrange Univer-

Stress sity, USA. Steven
is currently an As-
sociate Professor
I recall my first introduction to an academic of Psychology at
understanding of stress during a college course Hannibal-LaGran-
I took in the 1980’s. It was a psychology course ge University in
and the instructor had us read about Hans Hannibal, Missou-
Selye, the Hungarian/Canadian endocrino- ri, USA.
logist who studied the effects of stress on the He received his
body. I still recall the basis of his theory by the Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological
acronyms of “GAS” and “ARC.” “GAS” was how Seminary and a Masters in Psychology from
I remembered the key ideas of the General Ad- New Mexico Highlands University.
aptation Syndrome. The acronym “ARC” dealt He also have graduate work in International
with the effect of long-term stress on the body. Psychology from the Chicago School of Profes-
The letter “A” represented the alarm reaction, sional Psychology.
which is the initial response to the stressor. “R” He has a passion for the integration of psycho-
stood for resistance, which is the body’s mobi- logy and theology, both in the classroom and in
lization effort to deal with the stressor and “C” the clinical office. He practice psychotherapy as
was the crash or exhaustion that would take a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
place after a prolonged period of stress.
SVoss@hlg.edu
Development of the Construct of Stress
Selye’s research (1976) was focused on the phy- I recall my first introduction to an academic
sical effects of stress on the body. The major im- understanding of stress during a college course
plication of his work showed there was a physi- I took in the 1980’s. It was a psychology course
cal and psychological connection: a body-soul and the instructor had us read about Hans Selye,
connection. Psychological and environmental the Hungarian/Canadian endocrinologist who
stressors could lead to physical and emotio- studied the effects of stress on the body. I still
nal exhaustion and bodies could pay the price. recall the basis of his theory by the acronyms
Selye borrowed the term stress from enginee- of “GAS” and “ARC.” “GAS” was how I remem-
ring, a field where stress was defined as effects bered the key ideas of the General Adaptation
of pressure or force on metal or other objects Syndrome. The acronym “ARC” dealt with the
and the total amount of resistance that could be effect of long-term stress on the body. The letter
withstood. Since the time that Selye developed “A” represented the alarm reaction, which is the
his theory, a more complex understanding of initial response to the stressor. “R” stood for re-
how stress impacts health and bodily systems sistance, which is the body’s mobilization effort
has emerged. Maté (2003) has summarized to deal with the stressor and “C” was the crash
more recent findings of this connection in a or exhaustion that would take place after a pro-
book for the general public entitled, When the longed period of stress.
Boy Says No.
The term stress eventually became a household Development of the Construct of Stress
term, but it has not always been that way. Hut- Selye’s research (1976) was focused on the phy-
macher (2019) stated that the term stress only sical effects of stress on the body. The major im-
came into use during the last half of the 20th plication of his work showed there was a physi-
century. Kugelmann (1992) has also addressed cal and psychological connection: a body-soul
the history of the construct and emphasized connection. Psychological and environmental

10