Fight or Flight Response

• Fight or Flight


  Evolutionary survival mechanism in response to threats
• Process of Fight or Flight:

  • Stressor detected by hypothalamus
  • HPA axis is activated in endocrine system
  • Pituitary gland releases ACTH, stimulating release of cortisol
  • Sympathetic NS activated, adrenal medulla activated due to adrenomedullary pathway, releasing adrenaline
• Role of Adrenaline

  • Increases anxiety, attention and alertness
  • Increases bloodflow to brain and muscle, constricts blood flow to digestive and immune system
  • Dilates pupils for improved vision
  • Faster breathing for increased oxygen for respiration
• (-) A03: Maladaptive System

  Frequently triggered by stimuli that cant be ran from or fought, causing acute stress giving energy and focus, but a prolonged response can lead to exhaustion, and chronic stress damaging immune and circulatory system
• (-) A03: Taylor (2000)


  'Tend or Befriend' response from Females, an evolutionary response to stress to protect a child, having large quantities of oxytocin reduces anxiety to make more rational decisions
• (+/-) A03: Gray (1988)

  'Freeze' response, avoiding confrontation of stimuli with adrenaline causing a more hypervigilent state initially so the best response can be selected
• (-) A03: Androcentrism


  Majority of research into Fight or Flight was conducted using Males, which was then generalised to females, creating a beta bias until Taylor produced 'Tend or Befriend'
• (+) A03: Lee


  Found the SRY gene developed aggression in males, making them more likely to fight than flight