L5 - Fight Or Flight Response Flashcards
1
Q
Sympathomedullary Pathway
A
- Sympathetic Nervous System is triggered by hypothalamus
- hypothalamus sends a signal to the adrenal medulla
- adrenal medulla responds by releasing a hormone adrenaline into the bloodstream
2
Q
Adrenaline
A
- HR + BR increase
- constrict blood vessels
- increase blood flow rate
- BP increase
- respiration + sweating increase
= Prepare the body for action + flight or fight
—> increasing blood supply
—> increase o2 to skeletal muscles for physical action
+ increase o2 to the brain for rapid response planning
3
Q
Parasympathetic Nervous System
A
- when the threat has passed, the parasympathetic nervous system dampens the response
- slows down the heartbeat + reduces BO
- digestion restarts (previously stooped when SNS active)
4
Q
ads
A
- evolution
- adrenaline
5
Q
disads
A
- freeze
- tend + befriend
- terrorist attacks
6
Q
evolution - ad
A
- the fight or flight path makes sense from an evolutionary psychology point of view
- cus it would’ve helped an individual to survive by fighting or feeing a threat
7
Q
adrenaline - ad
A
- studies supports the claim that adrenaline is essential in preparing the body for stress
- people who have malfunctioning adrenal glands don’t have normal fight or flight response to stress
8
Q
freeze - disad
A
- psych suggests that first reaction to stress is not to fight or flight but to freeze
- involves a person stopping, looking + listening
= being hyper vigilant to danger
9
Q
tend + befriend - disad
A
- psych found that females tend + befriend in times of stress
- tend + befriend refers to the protection of offspring
- seeking out social groups for mutual defence
- women have the hormone oxytocin
= means they’re more likely to stay + protect their offspring
10
Q
terrorist attacks - disad
A
- psych found that even males tend + befriend
- e.g. during the 2001 September 11th terrorist attacks
- both males + females showed tend + befriend
= as they tried to contact loved ones + help each other
