Synonyms
Definition
Homeostasis is defined as “a state of dynamic equilibrium of a system, which is preserved due to its resistance to the external and internal factors that upset the equilibrium” (Irkhin 2014, p. 254).
Introduction
Homeostasis is a theory that originated from the discipline of physiology. The coining of the term and the development of the theory is credited to Walter Cannon (1932) (Enfield 2004). It bears to mention, however, that the precursors of this capstone work of Cannon can be traced from the ideas of another physiologist, Claude Bernard (1927) (cited in Enfield 2004), and psychoanalyst, Sigmund Freud (1915) (cited in Walker 1956).
According to Henry (1955), Cannon’s work on homeostasis is a comprehensive theory comprised of approximately 15 core principles (Henry 1955). Thus, rather than viewing it as a single concept, there is an appeal to understand homeostasis as a unitary approach in physiology (Carpenter 2004).
It is noted...
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Bernard, C. (1927). An introduction to experimental medicine. New York: Macmillan.
Cannon, W. B. (1932). The wisdom of the body. London: Trubner.
Carpenter, R. H. S. (2004). Homeostasis: A plea for a unified approach. Advance Physiological Education, 28, 180–187.
Dowling, J. M., & Yap, C. F. (2006). Homeostasis and well being. Research Collection School of Economics. (working paper).
Enfield, R. E. (2004). Homeostasis. In W. E. Craighead & C. Nemeroff (Eds.), The concise encyclopedia of psychology and behavioral science. Hoboken: Wiley.
Freud, S. (1915). Instincts and their vicissitudes, Collected papers, Vol. IV.
Henry, J. (1955). Homeostasis, society, and evolution. The Scientific Monthly, 81(6), 300–309.
Irkhin, Y. V. (2014). Homeostasis. In A. N. Chumakov, I. I. Mazour, & W. C. Gay (Eds.), Global studies encyclopedic dictionary. Amsterdam: Editions Rodopi B.V.
Walker, N. (1956). Freud and homeostasis. The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, 7(25), 61–72.
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Balmores-Paulino, R.S. (2020). Homeostasis. In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T.K. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24612-3_674
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