The body's response to fear is automatic and instinctive. When the brain detects a frightening experience, it sends signals throughout the body’s nervous system, triggering various physiological changes to protect us from harm.
There are five common reactions which have been identified through the cumulative work of psychologists, therapists and physiologists over the course of decades (Cannon, 1915; Levine, 1997; Walker, 2013; Van der Kolk, 2014).
These are: fight, flight, freeze, friend, and flop and are shown in the following diagram.
Show description|Hide descriptionA table of information. Fight. Description. The fight response involves confronting and attempting to overcome the threat. Physiological responses. Increased adrenaline, heightened alertness, muscle tension and readiness to engage in physical combat. Behavioural signs. Aggression, assertiveness, anger and defensive actions both verbally and physically. Flight. Description. The flight response involves escaping from the threat to ensure safety. Physiological responses. Surge of adrenaline, increased heart rate, rapid breathing and mobilisation of energy to run or move quickly. Behavioural signs. Avoidance, running away, withdrawing from the situation or finding a safe space. Freeze. Description. The freeze response involves becoming immobile or 'playing dead' in the face of threat. Physiological responses. Decreased heart rate, muscle stiffness and temporary paralysis. Behavioural signs. Inability to move or speak, feeling stuck, still and silent and becoming unresponsive to stimuli. Friend. Description. The friend response involves appeasing or pleasing the threat to avoid conflict and ensure safety. Physiological responses. Activation of social engagement systems, reduced fear response. Behavioural signs. People please, compliance, excessive helpfulness and prioritising other people needs over one's own. Flop. Description. The flop response involves becoming completely passive (flop) in the face of danger. Physiological responses. Can involve a state of dissociation (flop). Behavioural signs. Flop, collapse, submission and a sense of helplessness.
To illustrate how the nervous system works in influencing the ways we respond to frightening experiences, consider each of the following two scenarios.
Active content not displayed. This content requires JavaScript to be enabled.
Show description|Hide descriptionImagine you are at a friend's house party when a fire breaks out in the kitchen. What would you do? Fight: You grab a fire extinguisher or a nearby blanket and try to put out the fire. Flight: You quickly find the nearest exit and run out of the house to safety. Freeze: You stand still, staring at the fire, unable to move or think about what to do next. Friend: You start helping others find their way out or reassure them that everything will be okay, trying to calm the situation. Flop: You pace around without purpose
Interactive feature not available in single page view (
see it in standard view).
Active content not displayed. This content requires JavaScript to be enabled.
Show description|Hide descriptionImagine you are in a busy city and suddenly notice a car speeding towards you as you walk on the pavement. What do you do? Fight: You might shout and wave your arms, trying to get the driver’s attention to stop the car. Flight: You immediately dash out of the car's path to a safer location. Freeze: You become paralyzed with fear and stand rooted to the spot, unable to move. Friend: You try to signal the driver politely, assuming they just made a mistake and will correct their course if they see you. You are also looking to protect others from the situation. Flop: You collapse onto the pavement, overcome by the sudden shock and fear, unable to react further. You are completely compliant and impassive to the situation.
Interactive feature not available in single page view (
see it in standard view).
You may wonder why people react to fear and threats with the five F responses.
It is important to understand that these reactions are not a matter of choice – they usually stem from past trauma and the ways in which the individual has responded to similar events experienced.
This can result in complex trauma or post-traumatic stress, causing the five F responses to recur as the nervous system becomes formed and ready to be activated.
