Lesson 5 Fight Or Flight Response

Question 1

Sympathomedullary pathway

Answer 1

The Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) is triggered by the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus also sends a signal to the adrenal medulla (part of the adrenal glands), which responds by releasing a hormone called adrenaline into the bloodstream.

Question 2

Adrenaline

Answer 2

Adrenaline will increase heart rate, constrict blood vessels, increase rate of blood flow, raise blood pressure, divert blood away from the skin, kidneys and digestive system, increase blood supply to the brain and skeletal muscles, and increase respiration and sweating. All of this prepares the body for action and fight or flight by increasing blood supply, and therefore oxygen, to skeletal muscles for physical action and increasing oxygen to the brain for rapid response planning.

Question 3

The Parasympathetic Nervous system

Answer 3

When the threat has passed the parasympathetic nervous system dampens down the stress response. It slows down the heartbeat and reduces blood pressure. Digestion, which is stopped when the SNS is active, restarts.

Question 4

Sympathetic nerves (fight or flight)

Answer 4

Dilated pupils
Increased heartbeat
Relaxed airways
Inhibit stomach activities
Stimulate glucose release

Question 5

Parasympathetic nerves (rest & digest)

Answer 5

Constricted pupils
Slower heartbeat
Constrict airways
Stimulate stomach activity
Inhibit glucose release

Question 6

Advantages of the Fight or Flight response

Answer 6

+ The fight or flight response makes sense from an evolutionary psychology point of view because it would have helped an individual to survive by fighting or fleeing a threat.

+ Studies supports the claim that adrenaline is essential in preparing the body for stress. People who have malfunctioning adrenal glands do not have a normal fight or flight response to stress

Question 7

Disadvantages of Fight or Flight response

Answer 7

• Gray (1988) states that the first reaction to stress is not to fight or flight but freeze. This involves the person stopping, looking and listening and being hyper vigilant to danger.
• Taylor (2000) found that females tend and befriend in times of stress. Tend and befriend refers to the protection of offspring (tend) and seeking out social groups for mutual defence (befriend). Women have the hormone oxytocin, which means they are more likely to stay and protect their offspring.
• Von Dawans (2012) has found that even males also tend and befriend. For example, during the 2001 September 11th terrorist attacks both males and females showed tend and befriend as they tried to contact loved ones and help one another.