Fight or flight

• What is the fight or flight response?

  A physiological reaction to stress
• What part of the brain is activated during the fight or flight response?

  The amygdala
• How does the amygdala respond to sensory input?

  It connects sensory input with emotions
• What does the amygdala signal if a situation is deemed dangerous?

  It sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus
• What system does the hypothalamus communicate with during the fight or flight response?

  The sympathetic nervous system
• What pathway is activated for a short-term response in the fight or flight response?

  The sympathomedullary pathway (SAM pathway)
• What physiological changes does adrenaline cause?

  Increased heart rate
• What happens after the fight or flight response is activated?

  The parasympathetic nervous system is activated
• What does the parasympathetic nervous system do after the fight or flight response?

  It returns the body to a normal state
• What functions are restarted by the parasympathetic nervous system?

  Functions like digestion
• What is the evaluation of the fight or flight response?

  • Initial 'freeze' response suggested by Gray (1988)
  • Humans may avoid confrontation
  • Hyper-vigilance during freeze response
• What is the 'tend and befriend' response?

  A female response to stress and danger
• According to Taylor et al. (2000), what do women tend to do in stressful situations?

  Protect their offspring and form alliances
• Why might the fight or flight response be counterintuitive for women?

  Running may be seen as a sign of weakness
• What are the issues and debates related to the fight or flight response?

  • Gender Bias: Early research focused on males (androcentrism)
  • Beta Bias: Assumed females respond like males
  • Taylor's evidence of 'tend and befriend' response
• What does beta bias refer to in the context of the fight or flight response?

  Assuming females respond like males
• How was the fight or flight response viewed in early research?

  It was assumed to apply to males only
• What is a potential negative consequence of the fight or flight response in modern life?

  Increased blood pressure and heart disease
• Why might the fight or flight response be maladaptive in modern life?

  It can be activated by non-life-threatening stressors
• What are the survival implications of the fight or flight response?

  • Useful for ancestors facing predators
  • Rarely needed in modern life
  • Can lead to health issues if activated repeatedly