5 - Fight or Flight Flashcards
How do the amygdala and hypothalamus work together?
The amygdala associates sensory signals with emotions associated with fight or flight (such as fear or anger).
When an individual senses a threat, the amygdala sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus.
Describe the the sympathomedullary pathway
When the SNS is triggered by the hypothalamus it sends a signal to the adrenal medulla, which responds by releasing the hormone adrenaline into the bloodstream.
What are the effects of adrenaline? and what is the purpose?
increase heart rate, constrict blood vessels, increase rate of blood flow, raise blood pressure, divert blood away from the skin, kidneys and digestive system, increase blood supply to the brain and skeletal muscles, and increase respiration and sweating.
All of this prepare the body for action, fight or flight by providing muscles with the energy for physical action and the brain with the resources for rapid response planning
Describe the parasympathetic nervous system
When the threat has passed the parasympathetic nervous system dampens down the stress response.
It slows down the heartbeat and reduces blood pressure. Digestion restarts.
What are the advantages of the fight or flight response?
Makes sense from an evolutionary psychology point of view because it would have helped an individual to survive by fighting or fleeing a threat.
Research supports the claim that adrenaline is essential in preparing the body for stress. People who have malfunctioning adrenal glands do not have a normal fight or flight response to stress.
What are the limitations of the fight or flight response?
Gray (1988) states that the first reaction to stress is not to fight or flight but freeze. This involves the person stopping, looking and listening and being hyper vigilant to danger.
Taylor (2000) found that females tend and befriend in times of stress. Women have the hormone oxytocin, which means they are more likely to stay and protect their offspring.
Von Dawans (2012) has found that even males tend and befriend. For example, during the 2001 September 11th terrorist attacks both males and females showed tend and befriend.
