Biopsychology: The ‘Fight or Flight’ Response Explained

Question 1

What happens when someone enters potentially stressful situation?

Answer 1

When someone enters a potentially stressful situation, the amygdala (part of the limbic system) is activated. The amygdala responds to sensory input (what we see, hear, smell, etc.) and connects sensory input with emotions associated with the fight or flight response (e.g. fear and anger).

Question 2

What is the amygdala?

Answer 2

The amygdala responds to sensory input (what we see, hear, smell, etc.) and connects sensory input with emotions associated with the fight or flight response (e.g. fear and anger).

Question 3

What does the amygdala do in a stressful situation?

Answer 3

-the amygdala sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus, which communicates with the body through the sympathetic nervous system.
-If the situation requires a short-term response the sympathomedullary pathway (SAM pathway) is activated, triggering the fight or flight response.

Question 4

What happens after the fight or flight response?

Answer 4

-Following the fight or flight response, the parasympathetic nervous system is activated to return the body back to its ‘normal’ resting state.
-Consequently, the parasympathetic nervous system slows down our heart rate and breathing rate and reduces our blood pressure.

Question 5

Evaluation to the fight or flight response. (2/8)

Answer 5

-When faced with a dangerous situation our reaction is not limited to the fight or flight response; some psychologists suggest that humans engage in an initial ‘freeze’ response.
-Gray (1988) suggests that the first response to danger is to avoid confrontation altogether, which is demonstrated by a freeze response. During the freeze response animals and humans are hyper-vigilant, while they appraise the situation to decide the best course of action for that particular threat.

Question 6

Evaluation to the fight or flight response. (4/8)

Answer 6

• The fight or flight response is typically a male response to danger and more recent research suggests that females adopt a ‘tend and befriend’ response in stressful/dangerous situations.
  -According to Taylor et al. (2000), women are more likely to protect their offspring (tend) and form alliances with other women (befriend), rather than fight an adversary or flee.

Question 7

Evaluation to the fight or flight response. (6/8)

Answer 7

-Early research into the fight or flight response was typically conducted on males (androcentrism) and consequently, researchers assumed that the findings could be generalised to females.
-highlights a beta bias within this area of psychology as psychologists assumed that females responded in the same way as males, until Taylor provided evidence of a tend and befriend response.

Question 8

Evaluation to the fight or flight response. (8/8)

Answer 8

-While the fight or flight response may have been a useful survival mechanism for our ancestors, who faced genuinely life-threatening situations (e.g. from predators), modern day life rarely requires such an intense biological response.
-Furthermore, the stressors of modern day life can repeatedly activate the fight or flight response, which can have a negative consequence on our health.
- This suggests that the fight or flight response is a maladaptive response in modern-day life.

Question 9

What does androcentrism mean?

Answer 9

Androcentrism means being centred on, or dominated by males and can be conscious (the individual knows they are behaving this way) or unconscious.

Question 10

What is beta bias?

Answer 10

A beta bias refers to theories that ignore or minimise sex differences. These theories often assume that the findings from studies using males can apply equally to females.

Question 11

What is maladaptive ?

Answer 11

Maladaptive behaviors are those that stop you from adapting to new or difficult circumstances. They can start after a major life change, illness, or traumatic event. It could also be a habit you picked up at an early age.

Question 12

What is the flight or fight process?

Answer 12

1. A person enters a stressful/dangerous situation
2. The amygdala (part of the limbic system) is activated which send a distress signal to the hypothalamus
3. The hypothalamus activates the sympathomedullary pathway (SAM pathway) - the pathway running to the adrenal medulla and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS).
4. The SNS stimulates the adrenal medulla , part of the adrenal gland.
5. The adrenal medulla secretes the hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline into the bloodstream
6. Adrenaline cause number of physiological changes to prepare the body for flight or fight.

Question 13

Physiological change we go under when flight or fight is activated?

Answer 13

• Increased Heart rate to increase blood flow to organs and increase the movement of adrenaline around the body
• Increased Breathing rate - to increase oxygen intake
• Pupil dilation- to increase light entry into the eye and enhance vision
• Sweat production - regulate body temperature
• reduction of non-essential functions (e.g digestive system, saliva production) - to increase energy for other potential functions

Question 14

What does the parasympathetic nervous system do after flight or fight?

Answer 14

Following the fight or flight response, the parasympathetic nervous system is activated to return the body back to its ‘normal’ resting state. Consequently, the parasympathetic nervous system slows down our heart rate and breathing rate and reduces our blood pressure. Furthermore, any functions that were previously slowed down are started again (e.g. digestion).