Stress Response Fight, Run, Freeze.
Stress Response Fight, Run, Freeze, also known as the fight or flight response, is a physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to survival. The response is triggered by the release of stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, which prepare the body to either fight the threat, escape from it, or freeze in place. This ancient survival mechanism has been crucial for the survival of our species throughout history and continues to play a significant role in how we respond to stressful situations today.
Historical Context:The concept of the fight or flight response dates back to the early 1900s when American psychologist Walter Cannon first proposed the idea in his groundbreaking work “Bodily Changes in Pain, Hunger, Fear and Rage: An Account of Recent Researches into the Function of Emotional Excitement.” Cannon’s research laid the foundation for our understanding of the body’s physiological response to stress and has since been widely accepted in the field of psychology and medicine.
Key Figures:One key figure in the study of the stress response is Hans Selye, an Austrian-Canadian endocrinologist who is often referred to as the “father of stress research.” Selye’s work in the mid-20th century led to the development of the General Adaptation Syndrome, which describes the body’s response to stress as a three-stage process: alarm, resistance, and…
