THERE ARE FOUR TYPES OF STRESS: THE INTERNAL STRESSES OF THE INDIVIDUAL; STRESS FROM INTERACTION OF TWO OR MORE PEOPLE; STRESS FROM AN ORGANIZATION; AND STRESS FROM THE ENVIRONMENT OR SOCIAL SYSTEM. THEORETICAL APPROACHES TO UNDERSTANDING STRESS INCLUDE THOSE CONCERNED PRIMARILY WITH STIMULI OR ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, THOSE CONCERNED WITH THE STATE OF THE ORGANISM PRODUCED BY THE STRESSING CONDITION, THOSE CONCERNED WITH THE MEDIATING EVENTS BETWEEN THE STIMULUS AND THE CONDITION, AND THOSE THAT REGARD THE STIMULUS AS THE STRESS AND THE RESULTANT CONDITION AS THE STRAIN. INTERNAL STRESSES RESULTING FROM UNRESOLVED FEARS AND CONCERNS MAY ACCENTUATE THE EXPERIENCE OF STRESS ORIGINATING IN EXTERNAL SOURCES. PEOPLE WHO HAVE SATISFACTORILY RESOLVED THE BASIC QUESTION OF THEIR OWN WORTH APPEAR TO BE ABLE TO COPE MORE EASILY WITH OTHER STRESSES. THE PROCESS OF COMING TO KNOW ONE'S SELF IS A LIFE-LONG UNDERTAKING THAT SHOULD BE, BUT GENERALLY IS NOT, SUPPORTED BY ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS POLICE DEPARTMENTS. EXAMPLES OF POLICE BEHAVIOR AND PERSONALITY TRAITS THAT INDICATE A FAILURE TO RESOLVE INTERNAL STRESSES, AN ARREST OF PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND A SURRENDER TO EXTERNAL STRESSORS ARE NOTED. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED.