Fight or Flight

• (AO1)State the 6 steps within fight or flight

  1)Person enters a stressful/dangerous situation

  2)Amygdala (part of the limbic system) is activated which sends a distress signal to hypothalamus

  3)Hypothalamus activates the SAM pathway - runs to the adrenal medulla and the sympathetic NS

  4)Sympathetic NS stimulates the adrenal medulla, part of the adrenal gland

  5)The adrenal medulla secretes the hormone adrenaline (prepares the body) and noradrenaline (alerts the mind/person) into the bloodstream

  6)Adrenaline causes many physiological changes, preparing body for fight or flight
• (AO1)Explain the 5 physiological changes that occur and its reasoning

  1)Increased heart rate = increase blood flow to organs & increase the movement of adrenaline around the body

  2)Increased breathing rate = increase oxygen intake

  3)Pupil dilation = increase light energy into the eye & enhance vision (especially in the dark)

  4)Sweat production = regulate temperature

  5)Reduction on non-essential functions (e.g. digestive system, urination, salivation) = increase energy for other essential functions
• (AO1) What happens after the fight or flight response?

  The parasympathetic NS is activated to return the body back to its "natural" state (resting)

  It slows down out heart rate, breathing rate and reduces blood pressure.
• (AO1) What did Gray in 1988 suggest?

  The first response to danger is to avoid confrontation altogether = demonstrates by the freeze response.

  During the freeze response, animals/human are hyper-vigilant, whilst they appraise the situation to decide the best course of action for that particular threat.
• (AO1) What did Taylor et al in 2000 discover?

  The fight or flight response is typically a male response to danger

  Females adopt a "tend and befriend" response in a stressful/dangerous situation.

  Women are more likely to protect their offspring and form alliances with other women rather than fight or flee

  The fight/flight response may be counterintuitive to women as running (flight) may be seen as a sign of weakness & putting their offspring in danger
• (AO1) Link modern day life in relation to fight/flight

  The stressors of modern-day life can repeatedly activate the fight/flight response, which can have a negative consequence on our health.

  
  

  E.g. humans experience lots of stress = activates sympathetic NS, continually increasing blood pressure = damage to heart vessels & cause heart disease.

  
  

  This suggests that fight/flight response is a maladaptive response in modern-day life.