Pii: S0022-3999(99)00095-1

Objective: The purpose of this study is provide an historical arbitrary. The later models, however, assume that the nature context for current behavioral models of hypertension. Methof the eliciting stimulus is a determinant of the cardiovascular ods: A selective sample of the cardiovascular reactivity literaresponse. We describe the increasing complexity of the four ture was reviewed, from 1932 to present. Results: In the earlimodels, and contrast their underlying assumptions and the est model, cardiovascular reactivity was regarded as a marker implications of these assumptions. Conclusion: We provide of disease risk; however, in later models, reactivity came to an overview of study designs and variables that should be be viewed as a causal influence in the development of hyperincorporated into studies seeking to understand the ways in tension. As the models evolved, the underlying assumptions which cardiovascular responses to stress may influence the changed. Thus, the risk marker model assumed that cardiovasdevelopment of hypertension.  2000 Elsevier Science Inc. cular responses to stress were a stable, generalized characterisAll rights reserved. tic of the individual, and therefore the eliciting stimuli were