Fight Or Flight Response

Question 1

Explain the SNS steps in fight or flight

Answer 1

1 - acute stress/threat is detected by the hypothalamus
2 - noradrenaline is released from the brain which stimulated the adrenal medulla
3 - the adrenal medulla secretes adrenaline
4 - increases heart rate, pupils dilate, diverts blood from surface of skin, sweating

Question 2

Explain the PNS steps in fight or flight

Answer 2

1 - stressor/threat passes
2 - parasympathetic pathway decreases heart rate, breathing rate, turns on digestion

Question 3

Evaluation of flight or fight - FREEZE

Answer 3

One limitation is the fight or flight response is too reductionist
Gray - first reponse to danger is to avoid confrontation all together ‘freeze’. During the freeze response humans are hyper vigilant while deciding best course of action
This means there is an alternative reaction to a stressful situation that is not accounted for in fight or flight. Therefore it may not be effective as humans use cognition and problem solve rather than having an instinctive biological response.
However even the freeze response is an evolutionary survival instinct such as playing dead in order to survive so perhaps it is too a biological innate process.

Question 4

Evaluation of flight or fight - GENDER DIFFERENCES

Answer 4

Further criticism of gender differences
Taylor et al - females adopt a tend and befriend response in a stressful or dangerous situation. Women are more likely to protect their offspring and form alliances with other women rather than fight or flee.
Therefore women have a higher emotional response and also have increased oxytocin that inhibits fight or flight so this is not an effective explanation for women where protecting is the first response.
However this is also seen in males who seek out others in time of stress or are protective of their offspring. Therefore it could be gender biased to assume aggression is only male (alpha biased)

Question 5

Evaluation of flight or fight - OUTDATED

Answer 5

A further criticism is it is an outdated explanation.
Whilst useful for ancestors in short term life threatening situations, modern life stressors are more chronic and long term
Therefore it was adaptive for survival but modern stressors can not be solved through biological system eg lack of money. Ignores role of cognition.
However we do still use the response but it is not maladaptive as it can create health problems like strokes so if evolutionary it should evolve over time.