Lesson 5 - Fight/flight response

Question 1

What is the fight/flight response?

Answer 1

A survival mechanism which enables animals and humans to react quickly to life threatening/stressful situations.

Question 2

Steps of a sudden stressful situation:

Answer 2

1. Stressor occurs and hypothalamus responds
2. Adrenaline is released by the adrenal medulla (in the adrenal glands). Adrenaline releases glucose which is needed for the fight/flight response as well as increased heart rate and blood pressure etc.
3. Body prepared for fight/flight.
4. The sympathetic nervous system is activated and fight/flight response begins: Heart rate and breathing increases, puli is dilate, salivation stops etc.

Question 3

What does HPA stand for?

Answer 3

Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis

Question 4

What is the HPA Axis?

Answer 4

1. This process describes ongoing stress which is not sudden
   * An event occurs and the hypothalamus in the brain registers the event and produces CRF/CRH (Corticotrophin releasing factor/hormone)
2. CRF/CRH then travels to the anterior pituitary gland (in the brain), and the anterior pituitary gland releases a hormone called ACTH (Adreno-cortico-trophic hormone)
3. ACTH then travels via the bloodstream to the adrenal glands situated near the kidneys (adrenal cortex is activated)
4. The adrenal cortex produces cortisol (stress hormone which gives the person a quick burst of energy to deal with stress, but long term can cause the immune system to be suppressed) and adrenaline
5. Sympathetic Nervous System and fight/flight response begins: A) Heart rate increases
   B) Breathing increases
   C) Sweating occurs
   D) Salivation stops
   E) Pupils dilate

Question 5

Advantage of the fight/flight response:

Answer 5

The psychologist Baxter has stated that the fight/flight response relies on the person having good functioning adrenal glands. Without the adrenal glands, it is not possible to produce enough adrenaline which is needed for the fight/flight response to begin. Humans need the adrenal glands to work properly in order for the fight/flight response to be activated.

Question 6

Disadvantage of the fight/flight response:

Note: There are actually more disadvantages than advantages

Answer 6

3) Gray (1988) has criticised the fight/flight response. Gray states that the first reaction to stress is to avoid confrontation and not to fight or flight but to “freeze.” This involves the person stopping, looking and listening and being hyper vigilant to danger and alerts in their environment which could aid how they deal with the stressful situation.