Homeostasis as an explanatory principle in psychology

Fletcher, J. M. (1942). Homeostasis as an explanatory principle in psychology. Psychological Review, 49(1), 80–87. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0058280

Cannon originated the term homeostasis to describe the tendency of organisms to maintain stability or uniformity in their body states. By an extension of the principle, it might be used to describe the already demonstrated tendency to maintain status at the mental level of behavior, even in anticipation of the disturbing conditions. Instances of the usefulness of the term are drawn from such fields as perception (constancy), habit formation, learning, reasoning, work level (level of aspiration), and personality adjustment, to explain such mechanisms as rationalization and compensation.