Fight or flight

• Limitation - Different for women:

  Taylor et al suggests that for woman behavioural responses to stress are more characterised by tend and befriend rather than fight or flight.

  This involves protecting themselves and their young through nurturing behaviours and forming protective alliances with other women
• Limitation - Positive rather than 'fight or flight' behaviours

  Von Dawans et al says that acute stress can actually lead to greater cooperative and friendly behaviour, even in men.
• Limitation - Physiological damage

  If your body continuously enters the state of fight or flight then the increased blood pressure could eventually cause damage or heart disease
• What is the process of fight or flight?

  • A stressor is perceived
  • The sympathetic branch of the ANS activated, causes the hypothalamus to signal the pituitary gland to release a hormone (ACTH) into bloodstream.
  • ACTH activates the adrenal glands, causes them to release adrenaline.
  • Adrenaline triggers changes in the target organs
  • When the threat passes the parasympathetic nervous system returns the body to normal state