Fight or Flight

• describe the process of fight or flight

  1. person enters a stressful/dangerous situation
  2. amygdala is activated which sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus
  3. hypothalamus activates the SAM pathway - pathway running to the adrenal medulla and SNS
  4. SNS stimulates the adrenal medulla, part of the adrenal gland
  5. adrenal medulla secretes the hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline into the bloodstream
  6. adrenaline causes a number of physiological changes to prepare the body for flight or fight
• explain the increased heart rate

  • increase blood flow to organs and increase the movement of adrenaline around the body
• explain the increased breathing rate

  • increase oxygen intake
• explain the pupil dilation

  • increase light entry into the eye and enhance vision
• explain the sweat production

  • regulate temperature
• explain the reduction of non-essential functions

  • increase energy for other essential functions
• limitations of fight or flight (1)

  • Early research into the fight or flight response was typically conducted on males (androcentrism) and consequently, researchers assumed that the findings could be generalised to females. This highlights a beta bias within this area of psychology as psychologists assumed that females responded in the same way as males, until Taylor provided evidence of a tend and befriend response
• limitations of fight or flight (2)

  • When faced with a dangerous situation our reaction is not limited to the fight or flight response; some psychologists suggest that humans engage in an initial ‘freeze’ response. Gray (1988) suggests that the first response to danger is to avoid confrontation altogether, which is demonstrated by a freeze response. During the freeze response animals and humans are hyper-vigilant, while they appraise the situation to decide the best course of action for that particular threat.
• limitations of fight or flight (3)

  • While the fight or flight response may have been a useful survival mechanism for our ancestors, modern day life rarely requires such an intense biological response. Stressors of modern day life can repeatedly activate the fight or flight response, which can have a negative consequence on our health e.g. increase their blood pressure which can cause damage to their blood vessels and heart disease. This suggests that the fight or flight response is a maladaptive response in modern-day life.