When was fight or flight discovered

Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. The fight-or-flight response also known as the acute stress response , refers to a physiological reaction that occurs when we are in the presence of something that is mentally or physically terrifying. The fight-or-flight response is triggered by the release of hormones that prepare your body to either stay and deal with a threat or to run away to safety. The term "fight-or-flight" represents the choices that our ancient ancestors had when faced with danger in their environment.

They could either fight or flee. In either case, the physiological and psychological response to stress prepares the body to react to the danger.

In the s, American physiologist Walter Cannon was the first to describe the fight-or-flight response. Cannon realized that a chain of rapidly occurring reactions inside the body helped to mobilize the body's resources to deal with threatening circumstances.

Today, the fight-or-flight response is recognized as part of the first stage of Hans Selye's general adaptation syndrome a theory describing the stress response. In response to acute stress , the body's sympathetic nervous system is activated by the sudden release of hormones. The sympathetic nervous system then stimulates the adrenal glands , triggering the release of catecholamines including adrenaline and noradrenaline.

This chain of reactions results in an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate. You can probably think of a time when you experienced the fight-or-flight response. When faced with something frightening, you can feel your heartbeat quicken, you may start breathing faster, and your entire body becomes tense and ready to take action. The fight-or-flight response can happen in the face of an imminent physical danger such as encountering a growling dog during your morning jog or as a result of a psychological threat such as preparing to give a big presentation at school or work.

Physical signs that can indicate the fight-or-flight response has kicked in include:. The fight-or-flight response plays a critical role in how we deal with stress and danger in our environment. When we are under threat, the response prepares the body to either fight or flee. By priming your body for action, you are better prepared to perform under pressure. The stress created by the situation can actually be helpful, making it more likely that you will cope effectively with the threat.

During an alarm reaction, you are alerted to a stressor, and your body alarms you with a cascade of physiological reactions that provide you with the energy to manage the situation. A person who wakes up in the middle of the night to discover her house is on fire, for example, is experiencing an alarm reaction. Figure 4. Prolonged stress ultimately results in exhaustion. If exposure to a stressor is prolonged, the organism will enter the stage of resistance.

During this stage, the initial shock of alarm reaction has worn off and the body has adapted to the stressor. Nevertheless, the body also remains on alert and is prepared to respond as it did during the alarm reaction, although with less intensity. For example, suppose a child who went missing is still missing 72 hours later. Although the parents would obviously remain extremely disturbed, the magnitude of physiological reactions would likely have diminished over the 72 intervening hours due to some adaptation to this event.

If exposure to a stressor continues over a longer period of time, the stage of exhaustion ensues. As a result, illness, disease, and other permanent damage to the body—even death—may occur. Illustration by Joshua Seong. The fight-or-flight response, also known as the acute stress response, refers to a physiological reaction that occurs in the presence of something that is terrifying, either mentally or physically. The response is triggered by the release of hormones that prepare your body to either stay and deal with a threat or to run away to safety.

They could either fight or flee. In either case, the physiological and psychological response to stress prepares the body to react to the danger. How W. Rivers helped a sufferer of claustrophobia in the trenches during Psychology approaches, theories and studies explained.

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