ABSTRACT
Stress is one of the most crucial of all areas of human understanding. Once we comprehend how individuals react under the extremes of stress, many of the more subtle forms of unstressed behavior will become immediately comprehensible. Stress is a ubiquitous fact of life but contrary to the popular conception of the notion, stress is not always a bad thing. Indeed, the capacity to adapt and respond to the various circumstances of existence may be a definition of life itself (and see Schrodinger, 1946). This chapter presents an introduction to stress through an examination of the various theories that have been proposed to understand its nature and thus account for its effects. We evaluate these conceptions and theories, pointing out their differences and commonalities as well as their respective strengths and weaknesses. In these perilous times for our world, how people react in unusual and even unprecedented situations goes well beyond just an academic exercise or yet another text book. Understanding these effects may well be the key to our collective survival. If you do not believe this assertion simply ask the people, of Baghdad, Kabul, New York, London, Madrid, Washington, and Beirut. Their response will quickly disabuse you of any misapprehension. What follows then is certainly an academic endeavor but its importance will, we hope, be felt well beyond the “ivory towers” of Universities and like institutions.
