In psychology, stress is a word commonly used but often with little clear understanding of its meaning. It is now generally accepted that stress is useful and is not a negative experience that should be avoided. Stress refers to forces applied to the human psyche. It could be useful to the advance of psychology as a science if the same meaning as applied to engineering science is applied to stress in biological organisms.
In engineering the term stress refers to a force applied to an item of construction or function. Each engineering item is developed with the express purpose of withstanding a certain amount of stress for a certain period of time. If the forces acting on that item are greater than was intended then the material within the item undergoes strain in which case the stress causes permanent change in the configuration of the material. At this point the item has to be replaced.
While little can be done to control the popular meaning of the word stress, psychologists owe it to their science to create meanings that are fitting and useful. Good discipline and accuracy are the hallmarks of a successful academicdiscipline.