Fight or flight Flashcards
When is the flight or fight response activated?
In a threatening or stressful situation
How do people’s bodies change in flight or fight?
Increased heart rate, Increased breathing rate, Pupil dilation, Sweat production, Reduction of non essential functions
How did the flight or fight response evolve?
As a survival mechanism allowing humans to act quickly in a life-threatening situations
What happens in the brain during a flight or fight response?
The amygdala is activated and associates sensory signals with emotions associated with FoF such as fear and anger. It sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus and this communicates with the sympathetic nervous system
What are the body’s response to stressors?
Acute (sudden) stressors and Chronic (ongoing) stressors
What is the response to acute stressors?
SNS is triggered and prepares the body for FF then adrenal medulla releases adrenaline into bloodstream
The adrenaline causes physiological changes
Once the threat has passed the PNS dampens down the stress and digestion begins again
What are the physiological changes caused by adrenaline?
Heart beats faster, pushing blood to vital organs increasing blood pressure
Breathing becomes faster so more oxygen taken in
Blood sugar is released and fats giving the body energy
What is the reason for the physiological change of an increased heart rate?
To increase blood flow to organs and increase movement of adrenaline around the body
What is the reason for the physiological change of an increased breathing rate?
To increase oxygen intake
What is the reason for the physiological change of pupil dilation?
To increase light energy into the eye and enhance vision
What is the reason for the physiological change of sweat production?
To regulate temperature in
What is the reason for the physiological change of the reduction of nonessential functions?
(digestive system, urination, salivation) To increase energy for other essential functions
What does the parasympathetic nervous system do once a threat has passed?
dampens the stress response slowing down the heartbeat and reduce blood pressure and restarting digestion
What are the strengths of fight and flight?
+ Makes sense form a evolutionary point of view as it would have helped an individual to survive by fighting or fleeing a threat, it’s a very valid explanation
What are the weaknesses of fight and flight?
- Our reaction is not limited to fight or flight, there is also an initial freeze so it doesn’t take into account over responses (Gray (1988))
- Typically a male response, females tend and befriend (Taylor et al (2000)) (Von Dawans (2012))
- May have been useful before but not now and it can have negative impact on health
Gray (1988)
First response to danger is to avoid confrontation and this is a freeze response, humans are hyper-vigilant and decide the best course of action
Taylor et al (2000)
Women are more likely to protect offspring (tend) and form alliances with other women (befriend) and fight or flight may be counterintuitive for women as running might be a sign of weakness and endanger their offspring
Von Dawans et al (2012)
Even males tend and befriend, during 9/11 attack both males and females do this as they tried to contact loved ones and help each other
How does the flight or fight response negatively impact health?
Humans that are stressed a lot continually activate the SNS and the increased blood pressure can damage blood vessels and cause heart disease
