Fight or flight

• What does fight or flight do

  -helps an individual to react quicker than normal and facilitates optimal functioning so that they can fight a threat or run away from it

  -combines nervous and endocrine system
• Outline the first step of the fight flight response

  -a person perceives an acute stressor
• outline the step 2

  -the amygdala is activated which sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus which detects the signal
• outline step 3

  -this signal is sent to the sympathetic nervous system. the adrenal gland is then stimulated
• outline step 4

  -this gland then secretes adrenaline into the blood stream
• outline step 5

  -adrenaline leads to a number of physiological changes such as increased heart rate and dilated pupils

  -these changes prepare the body to either run from the stressor or fight the stressor
• outline step 6

  -once the stressor is overcome the parasympathetic nervous system returns the body to a state of relaxation

  -rest and digest
• What is a weakness of the f and f response

  -it is maladaptive and can therefore have a negative effect on health especially in modern day life.

  -modern day stressors tend to be non life threatening. however they still trigger the release of adrenalin and other stress hormones

  -overtime this can have a devastating effect on health
• outline another weakness of f and f

  -Gray (1988) suggests that the first response to danger is to avoid confrontation altogether which is demonstrated the freeze response

  -Freezing allows the individual to assess the situation before deciding on the best course of action. This indicates that the fight or flight model does not capture the full complexity of human responses to stress.

  -F and F is too simplistic
• Outline another weakness of f and f

  -Taylor et al (2002) suggest that females adopt a tend and befriend response in stressful or dangerous situations

  -according to Taylor women are more likely to protect their offspring(tending) and form alliances with other women(befriend) rather than fight or run away

  -this means there are individual differences in the way men and women respond
• What is another weakness (individual differences)

  -Not everyone responds to stress in the same way—some people are more prone to fight, others to flight, or even freeze. Personality types and past experiences influence this.-For example, Type A personalities may show more aggressive (fight) responses compared to more passive individuals.-This variation indicates that the model lacks consideration of psychological and personality factors.
• what is another weakness Role of the parasympathetic nervous system is underemphasized

  -After the initial fight or flight response, the parasympathetic branch of the ANS restores the body to homeostasis.-This "rest and digest" process is vital for reducing the body's stress levels and preventing long-term damage.-Therefore, a complete explanation of the stress response must include both the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, not just the initial reaction.