Fight or flight
A01
- The amygdala associates sensory signals with emotions associated with fight or
flight – it sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus which triggers the ANS,
specifically the sympathetic nervous system
- The body responds to acute stressors and chronic stressors
- The endocrine system and autonomic nervous system work in parallel with one
another – e.g. during a stressful situation:
- When a stressor is perceived, the hypothalamus triggers the ANS
- The ANS changes from the parasympathetic state to the sympathetic state
- Adrenaline is released from the adrenal medulla into the bloodstream
- Adrenaline triggers the fight or flight response
- Once the threat has passed, the parasympathetic returns the body to its resting
state, slowing heartbeat and reducing blood pressure
- If the brain continues to perceive something as threatening the hypothalamus
activates the HPA axis - consists of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and
adrenal glands
- HPA axis is eIicient in regulating itself
- Hypothalamus and pituitary gland have receptors monitoring cortisol levels
- If they rise rise above normal they initiate a reduction in CRH and ACTH
hormones
A03
S – real life application
P - One strength of the fight or flight explanation is its real-life application in
understanding and treating the neg eAects of chronic stress responses.
E – e.g. prolonged activation of the HPA axis results in the continuous release
of cortisol, a hormone that helps the body respond to stress.
However, excessive cortisol can cause cog impairments, weakened immunity, and LT
conditions like Cushing’s Syndrome.
This understanding has led to the development of stress management interventions,
like mindfulness and meditation - widely accessible and non-invasive treatments.
E - mindfulness-based practices have been shown to calm the amygdala, the brain
region involved in threat detection, which in turn reduces activation of the HPA axis.
As cortisol levels fall, individuals experience improved concentration, emotional
regulation, and immune function.
,This demonstrates that applying biological knowledge of the fight or flight system
directly informs practical strategies for reducing chronic stress in daily life.
L - strong external validity and applicability, as the theory has informed therapeutic
approaches that improve mental and physical health outcomes.
By translating bio mechanisms into real-world treatments, the fight or flight explanation
proves useful beyond theoretical understanding.
L - tend and befriend response
P - Research suggests there are biological and hormonal diAerences between males
and females in how they respond to stress. Females may exhibit a tend and
befriend response rather than a traditional fight or flight pattern.
E - Lee and Farley found that the SRY gene, located on the Y chromosome, triggers the
release of adrenaline and noradrenaline, promoting aggression and fight or
flight behaviour in males.
- In contrast, females lack this gene but have higher levels of oxytocin, a hormone
that promotes bonding, nurturing, and aAiliative behaviour.
E - females may respond to stress by protecting their oIspring (tending) and forming
supportive social groups (befriending).
- Such behaviour would have increased evolutionary fitness by ensuring survival
through cooperation and shared childcare within social groups.
L - fight or flight model lacks generalisability - mainly reflects male physiological
patterns.
- Incorporating the tend and befriend response produces a more valid and
inclusive understanding of human stress reactions across both genders.
L - evolutionary mismatch in modern stress
P - A limitation of the fight or flight response is that it may rep an evolutionary
mismatch; an adaptive reaction for physical survival in ancestral environments but far
less relevant for the psychological stressors of modern life.
E - early humans needed the fight or flight response to survive encounters with wild
animals or enemies.
However, in contemporary society, stress is more likely to arise from non-physical
challenges like workplace pressure or financial strain which do not require intense
physical action.
, E - Repeated activation of this physiological system can cause harmful eIects.
Prolonged release of adrenaline and cortisol increases blood pressure and elevates
the risk of heart disease and other chronic illnesses.
- suggests that the once adaptive mechanism has become maladaptive,
undermining both physical health and emotional well-being.
L - limited applicability to modern stress - fails to account for cognitive and emotional
coping mechanisms.
- This reduces its overall validity as an explanation of stress responses in today’s
complex social environments.
A01
- The amygdala associates sensory signals with emotions associated with fight or
flight – it sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus which triggers the ANS,
specifically the sympathetic nervous system
- The body responds to acute stressors and chronic stressors
- The endocrine system and autonomic nervous system work in parallel with one
another – e.g. during a stressful situation:
- When a stressor is perceived, the hypothalamus triggers the ANS
- The ANS changes from the parasympathetic state to the sympathetic state
- Adrenaline is released from the adrenal medulla into the bloodstream
- Adrenaline triggers the fight or flight response
- Once the threat has passed, the parasympathetic returns the body to its resting
state, slowing heartbeat and reducing blood pressure
- If the brain continues to perceive something as threatening the hypothalamus
activates the HPA axis - consists of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and
adrenal glands
- HPA axis is eIicient in regulating itself
- Hypothalamus and pituitary gland have receptors monitoring cortisol levels
- If they rise rise above normal they initiate a reduction in CRH and ACTH
hormones
A03
S – real life application
P - One strength of the fight or flight explanation is its real-life application in
understanding and treating the neg eAects of chronic stress responses.
E – e.g. prolonged activation of the HPA axis results in the continuous release
of cortisol, a hormone that helps the body respond to stress.
However, excessive cortisol can cause cog impairments, weakened immunity, and LT
conditions like Cushing’s Syndrome.
This understanding has led to the development of stress management interventions,
like mindfulness and meditation - widely accessible and non-invasive treatments.
E - mindfulness-based practices have been shown to calm the amygdala, the brain
region involved in threat detection, which in turn reduces activation of the HPA axis.
As cortisol levels fall, individuals experience improved concentration, emotional
regulation, and immune function.
,This demonstrates that applying biological knowledge of the fight or flight system
directly informs practical strategies for reducing chronic stress in daily life.
L - strong external validity and applicability, as the theory has informed therapeutic
approaches that improve mental and physical health outcomes.
By translating bio mechanisms into real-world treatments, the fight or flight explanation
proves useful beyond theoretical understanding.
L - tend and befriend response
P - Research suggests there are biological and hormonal diAerences between males
and females in how they respond to stress. Females may exhibit a tend and
befriend response rather than a traditional fight or flight pattern.
E - Lee and Farley found that the SRY gene, located on the Y chromosome, triggers the
release of adrenaline and noradrenaline, promoting aggression and fight or
flight behaviour in males.
- In contrast, females lack this gene but have higher levels of oxytocin, a hormone
that promotes bonding, nurturing, and aAiliative behaviour.
E - females may respond to stress by protecting their oIspring (tending) and forming
supportive social groups (befriending).
- Such behaviour would have increased evolutionary fitness by ensuring survival
through cooperation and shared childcare within social groups.
L - fight or flight model lacks generalisability - mainly reflects male physiological
patterns.
- Incorporating the tend and befriend response produces a more valid and
inclusive understanding of human stress reactions across both genders.
L - evolutionary mismatch in modern stress
P - A limitation of the fight or flight response is that it may rep an evolutionary
mismatch; an adaptive reaction for physical survival in ancestral environments but far
less relevant for the psychological stressors of modern life.
E - early humans needed the fight or flight response to survive encounters with wild
animals or enemies.
However, in contemporary society, stress is more likely to arise from non-physical
challenges like workplace pressure or financial strain which do not require intense
physical action.
, E - Repeated activation of this physiological system can cause harmful eIects.
Prolonged release of adrenaline and cortisol increases blood pressure and elevates
the risk of heart disease and other chronic illnesses.
- suggests that the once adaptive mechanism has become maladaptive,
undermining both physical health and emotional well-being.
L - limited applicability to modern stress - fails to account for cognitive and emotional
coping mechanisms.
- This reduces its overall validity as an explanation of stress responses in today’s
complex social environments.
