Fight or Flight

Question 1

Explain the fight or flight process

Answer 1

1. A person enters a stressful or dangerous situation
2. The amygdala is activated and it sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus.
3. The hypothalamus activates the sympathomedullary pathway which is a pathway connected to the adrenal medulla and the sympathetic nervous system.
4. The sympathetic nervous system stimulates adrenal medulla to secrete the hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline into the bloodstream which causes psychological changes in the body to prepare it for fight or flight.

Question 2

What are some of the psychological changes caused by adrenaline and noradrenaline and why do they occur?

Answer 2

Increased heart rate
- increases the blood flow to organs such as the brain for quick thinking and increases the movement of adrenaline around the body

Increased breathing rate
- increases oxygen intake that can be used in the muscles

Pupil dilation
- to increase the amount of light entering the eye to enhance vision

Sweat production
- regulates body temperature

Question 3

Evaluate the fight or flight response

Answer 3

• It is a male response to danger, Taylor et al suggested females response to danger is ‘tend and befriend’ where they form alliances with other females in order to protect themselves and their offspring. Running (flight) can be a sign of weakness and can put their offspring in danger
• The response was used by our ancestors when they encountered genuinely life-threatening situations, modern day living rarely requires such an intense biological response. Furthermore, stressors that trigger the response can be damaging to our health e.g. SNS constantly increasing blood pressure can cause heart problems.