fight or flight

Question 1

the fight or flight response

Answer 1

1. enter a stressful situation
2. the amygdala is activated and sends a signal to the hypothalamus
3. this activates the pathway running to the sympathetic ns
4. the sns stimulates the adrenal medulla, secreting adrenaline and noradrenaline into the bloodstream
5. adrenaline causes physiological changes to the body to prepare for fight or flight

Question 2

physiological changes

Answer 2

• increased heart rate: increases blood flow to organs and the movement of adrenaline around the body
• increased breathing rate: increases oxygen intake
• pupil dilation: allows more light into the eyes and enhances vision
• sweat production: regulates temperature
• reduction of non-essential functions: increases energy for essential functions

Question 3

what happens after the fight or flight response?

Answer 3

the parasympathetic nervous system is activated to return our body to its original state

Question 4

give a limitation of the fight or flight response
1/4

Answer 4

our response to danger isn’t limited to fight or flight. a psychologist suggests there is a freeze period where we assess the situation to decide the best course of action

Question 5

give a limitation of the fight or flight response
2/4

Answer 5

fight or flight is typically a male response to danger. women will engage in a ‘tend and befriend’ response, where they protect their offspring (tend) and form alliances with other women (befriend). fight or flight may be counterintuitive for women as it may act as a sign of weakness that could danger their offspring

Question 6

give a limitation of the fight or flight response
3/4

Answer 6

early research was typically conducted on men, making it androcentric, and psychologists presumed conclusions could be generalised to women, hinting at a beta bias by assuming women will respond the same as men

Question 7

give a limitation of the fight or flight response
4/4

Answer 7

although the fight or flight response was a successful survival technique for our ancestors who faced real danger, modern-day life rarely requires this response. the stressors of modern day life may repeatedly activate the response, and this constant increase in blood pressure can cause damage to blood vessels and the heart. therefore the fight or flight response may be maladaptive in modern life