Fight and flight Flashcards
1
Q
What is fight or flight ?
A
- When an individual encounters a threat the body undergoes rapid changes
- This allows the body to either fight off the threat or flee to safety
- This is an evolved survival mechanism from dealing with acute stress
2
Q
What is the Hypothalamus’ role in the fight or flight response ?
A
- command centre of the brain which communicates through the sympathetic nervous system
- Activates the body’s response to stress
- Acute (sudden stress) - personal attack
- Chronic (Ongoing stress) - work/exams
3
Q
What is the parasympathetics role in our fight or flight response ?
A
- Deactivates the body from stress
- Brings things like heart rate back to normal levels
4
Q
What is the sympathetic nervous system’s response in the fight of flight response ?
A
- Triggers the sympathetic nervous system so it is ready for rapid action
- Sends signals through to the adrenal medulla
5
Q
What is the adrenal medulla’s response to fight or flight ?
A
- Releases adrenaline/ noradrenaline into the blood stream
6
Q
What is adrenaline’s response to fight or flight ?
A
- Causes physiological changes in the body
- E.g changes in heart rate, more saliva produced and sweating
- Triggers the release of glucose and fats into the blood stream to help supply evidence to the body
7
Q
What happens after fight or flight ?
A
- The parasympathetic nervous system calms down the response
- Brings the body back to rest and digest
8
Q
What did gray say about the fight or flight response ?
A
- Said that the first response to danger is actually avoidance
- This is shown by the freeze response
- In this response we tend to be ‘hyper-vigilant’ and then decide how to act in relation to the threat
- Likened to ‘deer in headlights’
9
Q
What did Taylor think about the fight or slight response ?
A
- Fight and flight is a male response to stress
- Suggested that females ‘tend and befriend’ instead
- This means that they tend to their offspring
- Or befriend/ form alliances with other women
