The fight of flight response

Question 1

What is the fight or flight response?

Answer 1

It is a response to stress, where the body becomes physiologically ready to fight or flee.

Question 2

What happens when a person experiences a threatening or stressful situation?

Answer 2

When a person experiences a threatening or stressful situation their body reacts in specific ways. These responses have evolved as a mechanism to help us react quickly to threatening/ dangerous situations.

Question 3

What happpens when the fight of flight response is activated?

Answer 3

1. The nervous system produces a rapidly bodily activation through the sympathetic nervous system
2. This is then turned in to a prolonged response by the action of hormones produced within the endocrine system
3. Once the threat has been removed the parasympathetic nervous system works to return the body back to its resting state

Question 4

Examples of how the sympathetic nervous system would change the body?

Answer 4

• Dilates pupils
• Inhibits digestion/Urination
• Speeds up heart rate
• Stimulates glucose production
• Dilates bronchitis to increase rate of breathing

Question 5

Examples of how the parasympathetic nervous system would change the body?

Answer 5

• Constricts pupils
• Stimulates digestion
• Stimulates saliva production
• Stimulates urination
• Slows down heart rate
• Stimulates bile production
• Constricts bronchi to decrease rate of breathing

Question 6

What is the initial response to danger according to psychologists?

Answer 6

Freeze response

This response involves hyper-vigilance while assessing the situation.

Question 7

Who suggested that the first response to danger is to avoid confrontation?

Answer 7

Gray (1988)

Gray proposed the freeze response as the initial reaction to danger.

Question 8

What bias is highlighted by early research into the fight or flight response?

Answer 8

Beta Bias

This bias minimizes the differences between males and females.

Question 9

What is androcentrism in psychological research?

Answer 9

Focus on the male experience

This bias occurs when theories or research center primarily around males.

Question 10

What alternative response do females exhibit in stressful situations according to Taylor?

Answer 10

Tend and befriend response

This response involves protecting offspring and forming alliances with other women.

Question 11

What do Taylor et al. (2000) suggest women are more likely to do in stressful situations?

Answer 11

Protect their offspring and form alliances

This contrasts with the fight or flight response typically seen in males.

Question 12

Why might the fight or flight response be counterintuitive for women?

Answer 12

Running might be seen as a sign of weakness

This could put their offspring at risk of danger.

Question 13

What does the fight or flight response reveal about modern stressors?

Answer 13

It can have negative consequences on our health

Continuous activation can lead to increased blood pressure and heart disease.

Question 14

What are two key areas of understanding regarding the fight or flight response?

Answer 14

• Impact of stress on psychological and emotional health
• Ways to help people cope with stress

Understanding this response is crucial for mental health support.

Question 15

Fill in the blank: The fight or flight response is typically a ______ response to danger.

Answer 15

male

This response is historically associated with male reactions to threats.

Question 16

True or False: The fight or flight response is always the most adaptive response in modern life.

Answer 16

False

It may be maladaptive in contemporary contexts, especially with ongoing stressors.