fight or flight

• what is the fight or flight response?

  biological reaction to perceived stress or danger
• what is the process governed by?

  autonomic nervous system
• role of sympathetic nervous system

  • activated when body perceives a threat
  • increases heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate
  • reduces digestive functions
  • stimulates adrenal medulla
• role of parasympathetic nervous system

  • counteracts effects of SNS once threat has passed
  • helps body return to homeostasis
• fight or flight process

  1. perception of threat
  2. activation of the SNS
  3. physical changes
  4. activation of PNS
• perception of threat

  amygdala perceives a threat and sends a signal to hypothalamus
• activation of sympathetic nervous system

  • hypothalamus activates the SNS
  • stimulates adrenal medulla to release adrenaline
• physical changes

  • increased heart rate
  • dilated pupils
  • increased energy release
• activation of parasympathetic nervous system

  brings the body back to a state of calm
• role of adrenaline

  released from adrenal medulla when the body is under stress
• effects of adrenaline

  • increased heart rate
  • dilated pupils
  • redirect blood flow
• role of noradrenaline

  increases alertness and focus
• ❌ fight or flight response

  gender biased

  • Taylor et al - females engage in a "tend and befriend"
  • influenced by oxytocin which promotes calmness and social bonding
  • androcentric
• ✅ fight or flight response

  evolutionary value

  • adaptive to survive life-threatening situations
  • rapid physical readiness would increases chances of survival and reproduction
  • biologically valuable mechanism
• ❌ fight or flight response

  ignores complexity

  • modern stressors are more psychological than physical
  • chronic activation of stress response which can be harmful
  • not fully applicable to modern life