Ever wondered why your body's immediate response to fear is to freeze? Let's delve into the fascinating world of human psychology and neuroscience to understand this primal reaction, its evolutionary roots, and its impact on our daily lives.
Rachael Sharman does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The fight or flight response is a primitive and powerful survival reaction
- Once the brain has perceived a danger or threat, adrenalin courses through our veins, increasing heart rate, pumping blood to muscles, and moving our attention toward a very singular focus: fighting off or getting away from the threat.
Playing dead
When you have been so overpowered, overwhelmed, or trapped, there is no option to either flee or fight.
- We do what a number of animals will, we “play dead”.
- In the case of a genuine freeze response, this is not a conscious decision; our primitive brain takes over and immobilises us, hoping our predator will lose interest and wander off.
Who will fight rather than flee?
People who are more approach motivated (such as extroverts, risk-takers) tend to perceive the reward in situations
- These individuals may be more inclined to approach a threat, a “fight” response, while those who are “avoidant motivated” (neurotic) perceive the risks/negatives in situations
Is freeze merely an extension of surprise?
Surprise is the emotion we feel when an unexpected event occurs, and we need to stop and process the scene in order to decide whether to fight or flee.
- People also come to a standstill when surprised, as they devote all their energy to deciding whether what is unfolding before them is a threat, a joke, a harmless incident.
