Fight or Flight

• What is the Fight or Flight Response?

  The way someone responds when they are stressed. The body becomes physiologically aroused ready to fight or flee
• What 2 systems are involved in the fight or flight response?

  Endocrine system and the Autonomic Nervous System
• Fight or Flight Response

  1. When a stressor is perceived the hypothalamus activates the pituitary gland and triggers the sympathetic branch of the ANS
  2. Adrenaline is released from the adrenal medulla into the bloodstream resulting in the physical arousal of fight or flight
  3. This happens immediately as soon as the threat is detected
  4. Once the threat is over the parasympathetic NS returns to its resting state
• Characteristics of sympathetic nervous system

  • Increased heart rate
  • Increased breathing rate
  • Pupils dilate
  • Digestion is inhibited
• AO3 Fight or Flight: Animal research

  • Most research exploring fight or flight was conducted on animals
  • This means there may become issues with generalisability and whether findings can be applied to humans
  • This means the fight or flight response may be different in humans
• AO3 Fight or Flight: Beta Bias

  • Early research into the fight or flight response was typically conducted on males so may only apply to them
  • Researchers assumed that the findings could be generalised to females
  • Women may instead display tend and befriend where they make alliances with others so they do not abandon their offspring
• AO3 Fight or Flight: Limited explanation

  • When faced with a dangerous situation our reaction is not limited to the fight or flight response
  • Psychologists suggest that humans engage in a ‘freeze’ response
  • The first response to danger is to avoid confrontation which is demonstrated by a freeze response
  • During the freeze response humans are hyper-vigilant and decide the best course of action for that particular threat