🗿intro to anthropology review

key term - Fight-or-Flight

Definition

The fight-or-flight response is a physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to survival. It is a survival mechanism that prepares the body to either fight the threat or flee from it.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. The fight-or-flight response is an evolutionary adaptation that prepares the body to either confront a threat (fight) or flee from it (flight).
  2. When the fight-or-flight response is triggered, the sympathetic nervous system releases hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which increase heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels.
  3. The fight-or-flight response diverts blood away from the digestive system and other non-essential functions to provide more oxygen and energy to the muscles, brain, and heart.
  4. Chronic activation of the fight-or-flight response can lead to negative health consequences, such as high blood pressure, weakened immune system, and increased risk of heart disease.
  5. The fight-or-flight response is an adaptive mechanism, but it can become maladaptive in modern society where we face more psychological stressors than physical threats.

Review Questions

  • Describe the physiological changes that occur during the fight-or-flight response.
    • During the fight-or-flight response, the sympathetic nervous system is activated, leading to the release of hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. This triggers a cascade of physiological changes, including increased heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels, as well as the diversion of blood away from the digestive system and towards the muscles, brain, and heart. These changes prepare the body to either confront the perceived threat (fight) or flee from it (flight).
  • Explain how the fight-or-flight response can become maladaptive in modern society.
    • In modern society, we often face more psychological stressors than physical threats. The fight-or-flight response, which evolved as an adaptive mechanism to deal with immediate physical dangers, can become maladaptive when constantly triggered by non-life-threatening stressors. Chronic activation of the fight-or-flight response can lead to negative health consequences, such as high blood pressure, weakened immune system, and increased risk of heart disease. This mismatch between the body's evolutionary response and the nature of modern stressors can contribute to the development of various health issues.
  • Analyze the role of the adrenal glands in the fight-or-flight response and its implications for overall health.
    • The adrenal glands play a crucial role in the fight-or-flight response by secreting hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones are key players in the physiological changes that occur during the response, such as increased heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels. While the fight-or-flight response is an adaptive mechanism, chronic activation of the adrenal glands and the resulting hormonal imbalance can have negative consequences for overall health. Prolonged exposure to high levels of stress hormones can lead to a weakened immune system, increased risk of heart disease, and other health issues. Understanding the role of the adrenal glands in the fight-or-flight response is important for developing strategies to manage stress and maintain optimal health.

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