A common word for the processes thought to be involved in a number of mental and physical diseases is psychological stress. There is little agreement on what constitutes psychological stress, despite the fact that the concept and its effects on health and wellbeing are of great importance. The origins, evolution, and present status of three definitional and research approaches to psychological stress are examined. The proportional weight that each of the three viewpoints on psychological stress places on the environment, the organism, and how those three factors interact through time varies. The three views' conceptual, methodological, and practical consequences are discussed. Promising leads for further investigation are dealt with.
