fight or flight response

Question 1

Outline the fight or flight response

Answer 1

• ANS and endocrine system play major role in the stress response in producing fight or flight
• stressor identified by brain
• activates sympathetic branch of ANS

Question 2

Step 1 - pituitary gland

Answer 2

• stressor identified by hypothalamus
• activates pituitary gland
• triggers activity in sympathetic branch
• of ANS

Question 3

Step 2 - bloodstream

Answer 3

• adrenaline released
• by adrenal medulla
• into bloodstream

Question 4

Step 3 - heart

Answer 4

• fight or flight response produced
• prepares body for sudden physiological action
• produces physiological reactions
• increased heart rate/blood pressure
• increased respiration
• reduced saliva/digestion
• immediate and automatic response

Question 5

Step 4 - parasympathetic branch

Answer 5

• parasympathetic branch returns body back to normal
• once stressor is removed
• homeostasis
• heart rate, respiration decreased, digestion increased

Question 6

Sally Has Potentially Seen A Piranha

Answer 6

Sally = stressor
Has = hypothalamus
Potentially = pituitary gland
Seen = sympathetic branch
A = adrenaline from adrenal medulla
Piranha = parasympathetic branch

Question 7

What is adrenaline?

Answer 7

• hormone released from adrenal medulla
• travels through blood
• activates heart and circulatory system
• increases heart rate and blood pressure
• changes important in fight or flight response

Question 8

Outline the DIRECT role of adrenaline in fight or flight

Answer 8

• increase heart rate
• so increase rate of blood flow and blood pressure
• increased blood flow to brain for decision making
• increased blood flow to skeletal muscles to flight

Question 9

Outline the INDIRECT role of adrenaline in fight or flight

Answer 9

• prepares body for fight or flight
• increases blood supply to skeletal muscles for physical action
• reduces digestion and saliva production
• increases oxygen to brain for rapid response planning

Question 10

What happens when the stressor is removed?

Answer 10

• parasympathetic branch of ANS takes over
• activates ‘rest and digest’ response
• returns body to homeostasis

Question 11

AO3 for fight or flight response: Limitation - females

Answer 11

P - does not explain stress response in females
E - e.g. research found women more likely protect offspring (tend) - form alliances with other women (befriend) than run away or fight
E - suggest gender bias - fight or flight assumes men and women respond same way to threat prior to research
L - limiting explanation of fight or flight

Question 12

Discuss to link AO3

Answer 12

• could be argued fight or flight too simplistic
• other responses to threatening situations may be applicable
• some psychologists argue first response…

Question 13

AO3 for fight or flight response: Limitation - two responses

Answer 13

P - issue with fight or flight - human behaviour not limited two responses
E - some psychologists argue first response to danger - avoid confrontation altogether - ‘freeze’ response