Socialization, Science, and Stress Theory - Essay Example

Your Name: Socialization, Science, and Stress Theory Institution: 15 November 2005 Stress is a relatively easy term to comprehend. It has been part of the human makeup since mankind has been known to be on this earth. Stress plays a part in every aspect of life, sometimes for the better and sometimes not. The most crucial point about the idea of stress in human life or any living organism is for it not to be overlooked simply because it can not be seen. Sociologically, stress can not be denied as being an essential characteristic of human kind. To many obvious health connections have been deemed related to this factor. Even so, there are sociologists that denied the evidence of it in the early 1900’s and even today there are some that still think it is a figment of a person’s imagination. How they could have this interpretation is inconceivable but it is acknowledgeable. If stress does not exist then someone needs to explain why every man and woman says they suffer from it at some point in their lives. How can something that isn’t real affect a person? Upon reading the journal article on stress by Russel Viner, my personal interpretation leads me to believe that the whole idea of this article is to substantiate the idea that stress is something that might possibly be controlled and studied. In reality, for an everyday person like me, that is an idea that is hard to come to terms with. How can a scientist actually control stress? I believe the article does not actually mean control like a normal working society would conceive it to mean. By this statement, they mean that it can be studied by using experimentation and theories. At least that is my personal idea of what they are theorizing through this article. One scientist of sociology discovered the theory of stress by shear coincidence, through a study of laboratory rats. His work was criticized but yet held relevant facts as well. It was the rats actions from outside stimuli that the term ‘stress’ was implemented into science. The results from these experimentations lead sociologists to the belief that stress is an absolute part of life. I wondered when I read this of how it could not have been looked at in that way all along. Of course any living thing is going to react stressfully when they sense fear or danger, etc. Life is filled with stress and I did find that there were many ideas that showed this in the supplemented article on stress theory and sociology. Once the idea was found to be credible that stress did provide some valid proof of existence then the reading showed that there was more willingness in other scientific areas of hypothesizing the theory even more so, even though doubt remained. Han’s Seyle (previously mentioned as the first scientist) was responsible for many of the ideas of stress theory and its causes in human life and the environment in which we live being given pause to consider (393). Although stress was discovered totally by accident by Seyle, it does not change the fact that it provided the burden of proof necessary to solve many unanswered questions with regard to health problems in the lives of many people. Also, this stronger evidence of its existence brought much emphasis on the theory into play. The substances that were used in experiments on the rats were termed ‘stress agents’. This was due to the fact that the mixtures posed irractical changes in the biological processes within the rat’s bodies; much like stress would do within an individual human. These mixtures where found to be the cause of the ulcerations in the stomach lining of the rats along with many other health questions. This was surprising to learn about as I had no idea all of this information was encircled around a simple idea such as stress. I’ve just always been aware of stress myself so it seemed I was an outsider looking through a foggy glass while reading some of this material. If it would not have been for this one critical mistake, of one scientist, I have to ask myself if stress would even be a relevant theory today. It is highly doubtable since it was criticized back in the time era of the 1920’s and on into the 1930’s, but even though it was not wholly accepted at all times it was still existent. One issue I came across while reading some of the methodology was somewhat funny but interesting at the same time. It was how the term ‘Gas’ was acknowledged through the various studies done. This term actually is an abbreviation for a scientific concept titled, “General Adaption Theory” (394). It just struck me as very comical because we use that word so boldly nowadays when really we are clarifying a theory with it. Many times when we are upset we experience stomach problems and pain, indigestion, and gas. All of these are ailments that we blame on stress in our lives. Of course if we have them now then people had these same symptoms in the 1920’s and 30’s and so forth. Actually, the same idea is exemplified in this article which is easily detailed by the rat experiments. The substances they were injected with caused adverse reactions in their biological chemistry which resulted in a stress factor such as the stomach lesions that were previously mentioned. This study can be carried over to a human though as well. Not the actual injection part but the environmental factors in life. Every thing we come into contact with in the world either poses a positive feeling or negative, either way there is always something that signifies stress. Back to the issue of gas being associated with stress, what it actually means is in regards to a living organism attempting to adapt to its environment which also can pose a stressful situation. Scientists in sociological studies have admitted to the fact that an over amount of stress in any living creature is going to promote stress; it is seen throughout the reading in the journal article as well. Also, my reading of this material has lead me to believe that what this scientist and others are relaying is the fact that x amount of stress can be the leading cause of, sickness, undiagnosable illness, and could very well be one of the causation factors of early death in human life (394). Stress in our environment has been considered a substantial element of negativity for some time now. I personally discovered, through reading about its theory, presented in this article, it took a significant amount of time for the idea to be accepted. Even now, in present day some scientists and doctors question the relevance of stress and the percentage it has to play in health related issues. I found it fascinating though, that once this theory seemed to draw attention from a select few others turned to it as well. Also, if one turned away others did too. This seemed to be a scientific pattern from an outsider looking in. One of the more positive issues that developed from understanding of this theory happened to be the comprehension of previous unknown causes of illness. Once stress was pinpointed as the causation then something could be done about it. Even though this article showed areas that seemed to be in favor of the view point of stress related issues, I was surprised to find there were still impingements with it being wholly implemented into the area of science. Because stress is not something you can see, touch, measure, or really test, it does not mean that it isn’t real. However, in this article, that is exactly how it was presented at times. Science has a funny way of rearranging things the way it wants it to fit. This is especially true of theories they can’t see (396). Stress theory was greatly utilized within the military installations following WWII. I personally think this is the time when the true idea of stress and its causes actually became prevalent. Anyone suffering from trauma or PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress disorder which was not as relevant in that time era) can understand what stress can do in a time of war. I agree with the author of this article in the idea that this theory provided essential support into understanding the recurrent problems the soldiers were facing in that time. One can only imagine the levels of stress that they were enduring. Science wanted to help treat the extreme conditions of stress that were leading to violent behavior or suicide while the government wanted to utilize the issues to their benefit in the war. I think that this type of treatment lead to the breakdown of many of the returning home soldiers and also in many suicides as well. I’ve often heard the saying that you can either let stress destroy you or you can learn to adapt and cope so you can learn to get through it. It isn’t always that easy for everyone as science has showed time and time again. Stress in society affects everyone differently and what one person can deal with another might not be able too. America has known this for quite some time due to many suicides that have occurred over and over again. In American culture, science has proven stress to be one of the main causations of failure in life. In fact, as I read this paper, I found it shows that America was one of the first social countries to even accept the idea of a stress theory. I’m not even certain if all countries acknowledge stress the way that America does. Through sociobiology studies within the American view, people of America actually took on the idea that stress could be of benefit as well. It had to do with how you lived your life, how hard you worked, how you planned for you future, and many other issues. It took thinking and planning like this to be able to stand back and claim those hard earned achievements that stress pushed an individual on to achieve. Stress theory grew fast in the late 1900’s and Han Seyle’s original theory had finally found an understanding base point. In America it was being joined by many Institutions and they were growing all the time. The American Institute of Stress was an establishment that evolved due to this theory. From Senators, to comedians, down to industrial workers, the stress theory had taken root. The interpretation of stress was realized that it did not have to hold all negativity but as was verbrated earlier, it could be positive as well (401). In fact, it was the whole concept that stress theory could provide positivity that promoted a whole new research era into the effects of it once more. The World Health Organization utilized the theory to battle cardiovascular disease and other stress related killers. The whole idea was now to turn bad stress into good stress. The stress theory was fast becoming the predominant scientific theory in America. Through the late 1970’s the theory of stress continued to grow. Medically, it created great concern from those of influential society. Senators, Congressmen, and many other publicly acknowledged officials had their interest piqued by this theory. Many aspects of personal life and spirituality adopted the idea of stress theory and the various outcomes it could present with. This lead to medical alternatives that are known today as: acupuncture, relaxation techniques, meditation, yoga, and a variable of other positive reinforcements to promote positive influences in life and reduce negative stress (402). In the 1970’s era, Selye’s theory was implemented by two American psychologists who also reverberated and agreed with the idea of the stress theory. Their names were, ‘Thomas H. Holmes’ and ‘Richard H. Rayes’. Their main area of study happened to be in the study of environmental concerns and how they impacted the mental states of individuals. Their interest in Selye’s ideas lead to the development of a unique tool that was proposed to be able to measure the ‘Stress of Life’. By possibly having the ability of measuring how much negative stress a person had in their life it was hoped that illnesses could be prevented that were directly related to stress. It has always been common knowledge that stress leads to serious health conditions, and I think I have previously stated this in my report here. Stress can pose a danger to the heart and many other vital organs in human anatomy. There is consistency that the amount of stress is one’s life is directly relative to their positive and negative life experiences. If life presents you with constant stress provokers then scientists and medical professionals tend to theorize that you might be more susceptible to stress related illnesses such as: hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and even the common cold (403). Stress directly impacts a person’s immune system, which I personally feel is a strong fact. This idea is even expressed through this article and the presented theory. Although in the 1930’s the stress theory had contradicting idea’s it still held reasonable facts as well. Throughout the years and into present day the idea has evolved and been examined by many different scientists with varying views concerning it. All and all it has proven to be one of the most substantial scientific theories around in regards to improving health and well being in personal life. Bibliography 1. Viner, Russel. (1999). ‘Putting Stress In Life: Hans Selye and The Making of the Stress Theory. Social Studies of Science, Vol.29, No.3. pp.391-410 Read More

Viner, Russel. (1999).  ‘Putting Stress In Life: Hans Selye and The Making of the Stress Theory.  Social Studies of Science, Vol.29, No.3.  pp.391-410 Read More