THE FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE

Question 1

Stage 1 of the Fight/Flight Response in a Sudden Stressful Situation

Answer 1

• The stressor occurs and the hypothalamus in the brain responds

Question 2

Stage 2 of the Fight/Flight Response in a Sudden Stressful Situation

Answer 2

• the sympathetic nervous system is now aroused.

Question 3

Stage 3 of the Fight/Flight Response in a Sudden Stressful Situation

Answer 3

• Adrenaline is a hormone which increases heart rate and is released by the Adrenal Medulla.
• this delivers the aroused state causing changes in target organs. e.g increased heart rate, dilation of pupils and decreased production of saliva

Question 4

Stage 4 of the Fight/Flight Response in a Sudden Stressful Situation

Answer 4

• The parasympathetic nervous system takes over the threat has passed. this returns the body to its resting state.
• this acts as a brake and reduces the activites of the body that were increased by the actions of the sympathetic branch

Question 5

Outline the role of adrenaline in the fight or flight response.

Answer 5

1- the fight or flight response occurs in a stressful situation and causes adrenaline to be released from the adrenal medulla, which triggers the sympathetic action.

2- Adrenaline increases heart rate, constricts blood vessels, increases rate of blood flow + blood pressure.

3- Adrenaline also increases blood supply/oxygen to skeletal muscle for physical action, increasing oxygen to brain for rapid response planning.

4- As the stressful situation passes, adrenaline levels return to normal and heart rate decreases, triggering the parasympathetic action.

Question 6

Gender bias AO3

Answer 6

• According to Taylor et al. (2000), women are more likely to protect their offspring (tend) and form alliances with other women (befriend), rather than fight an adversary or flee.
  Furthermore, the fight or flight response may be counterintuitive for women, as running (flight) might be seen as a sign of weakness and put their offspring at risk of danger.

Question 7

Not limited to flight or fight response

Answer 7

• When faced with a dangerous situation our reaction is not limited to the fight or flight response; some psychologists suggest that humans engage in an initial ‘freeze’ response.
• Gray suggests that the first response to danger is to avoid confrontation altogether, which is demonstrated by a freeze response.
• During the freeze response animals and humans are hyper-vigilant, while they appraise the situation to decide the best course of action for that particular threat.

Question 8

Androcentric

Answer 8

• Early research into the fight or flight response was typically conducted on males (androcentrism) and consequently, researchers assumed that the findings could be generalised to females.
• This highlights a beta bias within this area of psychology as psychologists assumed that females responded in the same way as males, until Taylor provided evidence of a tend and befriend response.