3.3. Fight Vs Flight

Question 1

What happens in the sympathetic nervous system in fight vs flight?

Answer 1

• Person enters a stressful situation
• The amygdala is activated and sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus
• The hypothalamus activates the SAM pathway, running to the adrenal medulla and the sympathetic nervous system
• The SNS is activated and the adrenal medulla releases adrenaline and noradrenaline into the bloodstream -> this causes the following physiological changes:
  - adrenaline: increases heart rate, increases blood flow to the brain and muscles, increased respiration and sweating
  - other responses: pupils dilate, bladder relaxes, digestion slows=dry mouth

Question 2

What happens in the parasympathetic nervous system in fight vs flight

Answer 2

• Once a threat has passed, your parasympathetic NS takes over and returns your body to normal functioning
• This takes several minutes to calm
• The system reduces the stress response and digestion starts back up ( HR decreases, BR decreases, blood flow decreases)

Question 3

— Negative consequences

Answer 3

• Repeated activation of the SNS can lead to physical damage to blood vessels then to heart disease
• Too much cortisol leads to repression of the immune response = decreased immunity

Question 4

— Gray

Answer 4

• Before any response, most animals freeze, as they become hyper-vigilant and new info is sought, allowing the best response
• Therefore, when faced with a dangerous situation, our reaction isn’t limited to a flight or fight response

Question 5

— Genetic basis in sex differences

Answer 5

• The SRY gene (promotes aggression) is only present on the male Y chromosome, therefore priming males in fight or flight only

Question 6

— The tend or befriend response

Answer 6

• Females response to stress is characterised by tend and befriend (protective alliances) behaviours
• This theory doesn’t explain this

Question 7

Von Dawans

Answer 7

• Study found that in both genders acute stress increased cooperative and friendly behaviours
• This could be because humans are social animals and it’s the protective nature of human social relationships that has allowed our species to survive (e.g. 9/11)