Adrenaline

Question 1

AO1 adrenaline

Answer 1

• The fight or flight response is caused by an acute stress, this is a sudden stressful trigger in the environment. For example, a lion jumping out the bushes would be an acute stress. This acute stress causes the amygdala to send a distress signal to the hypothalamus which signals the ANS to signal SNS stimulus the adrenal gland to secrete the hormone adrenaline which causes physical changes in the body e.g. Pupil dilation to let more light in or faster heart rate because more blood is being pumped around the body.
• The amygdala sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus, due to the stressful trigger in the environment. The hypothalamus suddenly triggers the Autonomic Nervous System. This triggers the Sympathetic Nervous System. This triggers the release of adrenaline and noradrenaline from the Adrenal Glands (specifically the Adrenal Medulla – centre of this cortex) into the bloodstream. This is known as the Sympathomedullary Pathway (SAM) because it is made up of the Sympathetic + ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬Medulla. This is a very quick action and the hormone causes numerous physical changes to the body. Once the threat has passed, the hypothalamus re-signals to the automatic nervous system this information. The Automatic Nervous System then signals to the Parasympathetic Nervous System to initiate control of the body. As a result of this, the digest and rest response brings the body back to normal (homeostasis), undoing any of the previously made physical changes. This is a result of acute stress - sudden stressful triggers

Question 2

what are examples for physiological changes

Answer 2

Increased Heart Rate
Increased Breathing Rate
Pupil Dilation

Question 3

what is the reason for increased heart rate

Answer 3

Adrenaline is released which increases the supply of oxygen to vital organs like the heart and increases the heart rate along with noradrenaline

Question 4

what is the reason for increased breathing rate

Answer 4

Adrenaline increases supply of oxygen in the body so more oxygen is going to enter the lungs and in turns increasing the breathing rate

Question 5

what is the reason for pupil dilation

Answer 5

The body activated the sympathetic nervous system, which prepares you to react to a threat. Pupils dilate to allow more light to enter your eyes to improve your vision and increase awareness of your surroundings for your brain to process information faster and decide whether to fight or flee

Question 6

AO3 (1) adrenaline

Answer 6

• Doesn’t accurately explain stress response in females
• For example, Taylor et al, ‘tend and befriend’, females are more likely to tend to offspring or to befriend danger rather than fight/flee
• This is a weakness because it means fight or flight is limited as it cannot be generalised to everyone as it doesn’t apply to females, reducing credibility
• However, can be argued that this is not beneficial for survival so any female who did this would die to this behaviour wouldn’t carry on
• Despite this, fight or flight response cannot be generalised to everyone because it doesn’t take into account this response
• Thus reducing external validity of fight or flight

Question 7

AO3 (2) adrenaline

Answer 7

• Not limited to these responses
• For example, Grais et al Found before fight or flight response, the body freezes, this is when a person stops and becomes hyper vigilant
• This is a weakness because it shows the fight or flight response is limited, which shows it’s incomplete
• However it can be argued that this could be an initial response or pre fight and flight which means it doesn’t come under fight or flight but comes before
• Despite this it is not a complete explanation which means it’s less likely to be used and trusted
• Thus reducing external validity of fight or flight

Question 8

AO3 (3) adrenaline

Answer 8

• This behaviour has negative repercussions on human biological functioning an is detrimental to modern society
• For example the fight or flight response no longer proves to be a useful survival mechanism
• This is a weakness because modern life situations no longer require an intense biological response, and this can negatively effects our health as long term stress can lead to physical illness
• However, it can be used in extreme cases like 9/11, showing that fight or flight can be useful
• Despite this these extreme cases rarely happen and fight or flight no longer holds practical application for humans
• thus reducing the external validity of fight or flight