A systematic, statistical-mechanics-based analysis of the response of dielectric elastomers to coupled electromechanical loading is conducted, starting from the monomer level through the polymer chain and ending with closed-form expressions for the polarization and stress fields. It is found that the apparent response at the macrolevel is dictated by four microscopic parameters—the monomer type and polarizability and the chain length and density. Our analysis further reveals a new electrostrictive effect that either reinforces or opposes the polarization-induced deformation. The validity of the results is attested through comparisons with well-established experimental measurements of both the polarization field and the electrostrictive stress
