Sjælen og legemet

En realvidenskabelig belysning

Abstract

The Classical philosophical problem of the relationship between body and soul (mind and matter, psyche and soma) is related to the modem research areas of »stress« and »psychosomatic illness«. Stress is discussed in terms oftwo relatively separate but interacting bodily response systems: Cannon's fight/flight reaction and Selye's general adaptation syndrome, which seems related to psychological states of »excitement-effort« and »dysphoriahelplessness « respectively. These stress reactions are further seen as the main mechanisms that may translate mental agony into several bodily health problems, including the present days major sources of untimely death in the western world, cardiovascular disorders and cancer.