L5- Fight or Flight

Question 1

what is the sympathomedullary pathway?

Answer 1

the sympathetic nervous system is triggered by the hypothalamus.
- the hypothalamus also send a signal to the adrenal medulla, which responds by releasing the hormone adrenaline into the bloodstream.

Question 2

what is adrenaline?

Answer 2

a hormone that prepares the body for fight or flight by increasing blood supply to the skeletal muscles for physicl action and increasing oxygen to the brain for rapid response planning. it also:

• increases heart rate and blood flow.
• constricts blood vessels.
• diverts blood away from the skin, kidneys and digestive system.
• increases repiration and sweating.

Question 3

parasympathetic nervous system during flight/fight response

Answer 3

when the stress has passed the PNS dampens down the stress response.

• slows down heart rate.
• reduces blood pressure.
• restarts digestion.

Question 4

evaluation of flight/fight response: strengths?

Answer 4

1. makes sense from an evolutionary psychology point of view as it would have helped an individual survive by fighting or fleeing a threat.
2. studies support the claim that adrenaline is essential in preparing the body for stress. People who have malfunctioning adrenal glands don’t have a normal flight or fight response.

Question 5

evaluation of flight/fight response: weaknesses?

Answer 5

1. Gray states that the first reaction to stress is not to fight or flight but to freeze. this involves the person stopping, looking, listening and being hyper viligant to danger.
2. taylor found that females tend and befriend in times of stress. this refers to protection of their off spring (tend) and seek to social groups for help (befriend). women have the hormone oxytocin which makes them more likely to stay and protect their offspring.
3. Von Dawans found that males also tend and befriend. eg. during 9/11 attack both males and females tried to contact loved ones and help eachother.