The fight or flight response Flashcards
Fight or flight
A sequence of activity within the body that is triggered when the body prepares itself for defending or attacking (fight) or running away (flight)
This activity involves a change in the NS and the secretionn of hormones that are neccessary to sustain arousal
1) Amygdala
When an individual is faced with a threat, the amygdala is mobilised.
Amygdala associates sensory signals with emotions assoc w fight or flight
Amygdala sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus
2) Hypothalamus
Communicates with the body through the sympathetic nervous system
3) SNS
When triggered, it begins the process of preparing body for rapid action necessary for fight or flight
Sends a signal to the adrenal medulla
4)Adrenal medulla
releases adrenaline into the bloodstream
5) Adrenaline
A hormone that circulates around the body and causes physiological changes
6) Changes in body
Increased heart rate= to increase blood flow to organs and increase the movement of adrenaline around the body
Increased breathing rate= to increase oxygen intake
Pupil dilation= to increase light entry to the eye toc enhance vision
Reduction of non-essential functions eg digestion, salivation= to increase energy for other essential functions
Release of glucose= supplying energy to parts of body assoc w for
7) PNS
Following the fight or flight response
PNS is activated to return body to normal resting state
Slows down heartbeat, reduces blood pressure, begins digestion again
AO3: Weakness (Modern)
Useful survival mechanism for our ancestors, who faced genuinely life-threatening situations (e.g. from predators)
Modern day life rarely requires such an intense biological response
the stressors of modern day life can repeatedly activate the fight or flight response, which can have a negative consequence on our health.
EG: humans who face a lot of stress and continually activate the sympathetic nervous system, continually increase their blood pressure which can cause damage to their blood vessels and heart disease
This suggests that the fight or flight response is a maladaptive response in modern-day life.
AO3: Limitation (Androcentric)
Early research into the fight or flight response was typically conducted on males
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
More recent research suggests that females adopt a ‘tend and befriend’ response in stressful/dangerous situations.
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.
AO3: Limitation Freeze
There is evidence against the first phase of reaction to threat.
Gray (1988) argued we avoid confrontation and that prior to responding with attacking or running away, most animals display the “freeze”, or “stop, look and listen” response, where the animal is hyper-vigilant, alert to the slightest sign of danger.
The adaptive advantages of this for humans is that “freezing” focuses attention and makes them look for new information in order to make the best response for that particular threat.
