Fight or Flight

Question 1

The ‘Fight or Flight’ Response

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).

If the situation is deemed as stressful/dangerous, 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 2

Describe the process of the ‘Fight or Flight’ response

Answer 2

1) A person enters a stressful/dangerous situation.
2) The amygdala (part of the limbic system) is activated which sends 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 causes a number of physiological changes to prepare the body for fight or flight.

Question 3

Increased heart rate

Answer 3

To increase blood flow to organs and increase the movement of adrenaline around the body.

Question 4

Increased breathing rate

Answer 4

To increase oxygen intake.

Question 5

Pupil dilation

Answer 5

To increase light entry into the eye and enhance vision (especially in the dark).

Question 6

Sweat production

Answer 6

To regulate temperature.

Question 7

Reduction of non-essential functions (e.g. digestive system, urination, salivation)

Answer 7

To increase energy for other essential functions.

Question 8

What happens after the ‘Fight or Flight’ response?

Answer 8

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).

Question 9

Weakness

Answer 9

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 10

Weakness

Answer 10

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. Furthermore, the fight or flight response may be counterintuitive for women, as running (flight) might be seen as a sign of weakness and put their offspring at risk of danger. This is a weakness as it creates gender bias.

Question 11

Weakness

Answer 11

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. This 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 12

Weakness

Answer 12

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. For example, humans who face a lot of stress continually activate the sympathetic nervous system, continually increasing their blood pressure which can cause damage to their blood vessel and heart disease. this suggest that the fight or flight response is a maladaptive response in modern-day life.