fight or flight reponse

• 1)body senses stressor in environment
• 2)information sent from sensory receptors via sensory neurones in PNS to hypothalamus. hypothalamus coordinates response and increases activity in sympathetic state of ANS
• 3)adrenal medulla in adrenal glands releases adrenaline via effectors into bloodstream and through action of endocrine system
• 4)physiological response of fight or flight carried out like rectum contracting, saliva inhibited, breathing and heart rate increase to survive stressor
• parasympathetic and sympathetic state are an antagonistic pair
• 5)once stressor is no longer a threat, hypothalamus reduce activity in the sympathetic branch and increases activity in parasympathetic branch.
• when parasympathetic brings body to normal after sympathetic branch causes flight of fight it is known as rest and digest
• weakness is research shows a third response is freeze, occurs when flight or fight cannot help so we dissociate from stressful event causing cognitive paralysis. suggests we need to consider role of cognition in flight or fight
• weakness is that it does not help with modern day stressors in comparison to evolutionary stressors such as hunting. modern day stress are more chronic such as arguing. flight or fight response can be maladaptive and damaging to our bodies.
• weakness is that psychological factors are ignored. different perception of a threat can affect flight or fight response. difference in perception of psychological response should be considered with flight or fight reponse