Flight Or Fight Response

A biological and psychological response to a perceived threat which we feel is beyond our coping abilities

An internal or external factor that is perceived as threatening and that has potential to cause a stress response

Some stress is necessary to keep us alert and occupied But stress that is too intense or prolonged can have harmful psychological and physical effects

Decrease and increase levels of sleep Obesity and anoxeria Depression and anxiety (psychological) High blood pressure Heart disease Strokes

Overtime the stressors humans faced has changed but the flight/fight response remains the same

The Amygdala and the hypothalamus : When faced with a threat the amygdala area of the brain is mobilised E.g you see a spider and fear is felt This sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus (central brain area) that prepares for flight/fight Which then goes to the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the presympathetic nervous system (PNS)

Acute stress

When the SNS is triggered it prepares the body for rapid action -flight/fight A signal is sent through the adrenal medulla which responds by releasing adrenaline Adrenaline circulates the body and causing certain physical changes

Heavier breathing taking in more oxygen (higher heart rate ) Blood is pushed rapidly to the organs (higher blood pressure ) Triggers release of more glucose (sugar) in to blood stream for the energy we need to perform actions Flight /fight action is then performed

P:one weakness of flight/fight is that females show a pattern of tend and befriend rather than flight/fight E:evidence for this is that a researchers found out that women protect themselves and their young through nurturing behaviour (tending) and forming protective alliances with other women (befriending ) E:this shows that it lacks representation as the research previously focused on males and not women who have obscured patterns of stress response

P:one criticism of flight/fight is that there are negative consequences E:evidence for this is that researchers found that too much cortisol suppresses the immune system E:this shows that the negative response can cause stress-related illnesses and heart disease therefore it shows RWA as it has evolved as we no longer require such levels of physical activity due to modern stressors

P:one weakness of flight/fight is that it doesn’t tell the whole story E:evidence for this is that before fighting or fleeing there is a freeze response which is essentially a ‘stop,look and listen’ reponse E:thus shows that freezing ‘ focuses attention and makes them look for new information to make the best response to the specific threat therefore this questions the reliability of flight/fight.

P:one strength of flight/fight is that it is challenges the classic view E:evidence for this is the human connection that happened during times of crisis such as 9/11the terrorist attack due to acute stress E:this shows that stress may lead to greater cooperative behaviour as human beings are fundamentally social animals therefore it shows RWA.