Fight or flight

• What is the fight or flight response?

  The reaction of the nervous system in response to a stressful situation
• What does the SAM pathway stand for?

  Sympathomedullary pathway
• When is the sympathomedullary pathway used?

  Acute stressors
• What is the process of the SAM pathway?

  A - Amygdala

  H - Hypothalamus

  A - Adrenal medulla

  A - Adrenaline
• What occurs after a threat has passed in the SAM pathway?

  Parasympathetic rebound - a large increase in parasympathetic arousal
• What does the HPA system stand for?

  Hypothalamic pituitary
• What type of stressors is the HPA system used for?

  Chronic stressors
• What is the process of the HPA system?

  Amygdala

  Hypothalamus

  CRF

  Pituitary gland

  ACTH

  Adrenal cortex

  Corticosteroids
• What does CRF stand for?

  Corticotrophic release factor
• What does ACTH stand for?

  Adrenocorticotrophic hormone
• What is an example of a corticosteroid?

  Cortisol
• What does cortisol do?

  Anti-inflammatory, weakens the immune system
• What is the tend and befriend response?

  • Fight or flight is androcentric
  • Taylor et al said women are more likely to make alliances with other women to protect their off-spring
  • Fight or flight therefore may be seen as a sign of weakness
• What does the aggression gene say?

  Lee and Harley (2012) - the Y chromosome carries aggression, explaining why males have the fight or flight response more than females
• What is the fight-flight-freeze response?

  When facing danger, people usually freeze

  Gray (1998) - our first response to danger is to avoid confrontation, so we freeze
• What are some negative consequences of chronic stress?

  • High sympathetic arousal can cause increase in blood pressure damaging the heart
  • Cortisol is an immunosuppressant so high levels of this will make people susceptible to illness
• What are the positive effects of the fight or flight response?

  Dawn et al - acute stress can lead to co-operative behaviour, explaining compassion in crisis’