Stressing the ‘body electric’: History and psychology of the techno-ecologies of work stress

This article explores histories of the science stress and its measurement from mid 19th century, brings these into dialogue with critical sociological analysis emerging responses to work in policy practice. In particular, it shows how contemporary development biomedical consumer devices for self-monitoring is based on selectively rediscovering biological determinants biomarkers stress, human functioning terms evolutionary ecology, physical health impacts stress. It considers placement individual body environment within particular spatio-temporal configurations renders subject experimental investigation through standardized apparatus, electricity, statistical normalization. Examining key themes processes such as homeostasis, metricization, datafication, emotional governance, we conclude that figure ‘body electric’ plays a central limiting role current technology-supported approaches managing an historical account can usefully open collective scrutiny.