'We're all familiar with the "fight or flight" response of animals in danger' - are we?

Came across a fascinating study which found that the heels-down posture in great apes and humans confer a fighting advantage. The commentary in an article on the study quotes Emily Carrington, a program director in the National Science Foundation's Division of Integrative Organismal Systems which funded the research. She said, 'We're all familiar with the "fight or flight" response of animals in danger.' Are we?

So many refer to the FoF concept to explain our natural responses to a threat. So many have a limited and flawed understanding of the FoF concept. In fact, the FoF concept is itself limited and flawed. Those that refer to the FoF concept to explain our natural responses to a threat are so often doing so based on a limited and flawed understanding of the FoF concept and are unaware that it is itself limited and flawed in that respect.


Has anyone bothered to actually read Walter Cannon's 1915 book on the subject before referring to the FoF concept to explain our natural responses to a threat?

I recently had cause to read a module that an organisation involved in providing cognitive behavioural therapy offers to those suffering some mental health issues. The condition of interest was anxiety and panic disorder and the first module described our natural responses to a threat with reference to FoF. They, like so many others, got it wrong. They, like so many others, assume and use the FoF concept in an attempt to provide credibility for their offerings, however, it is frustrating when they get it wrong.

The correct and complete understanding of the FoF concept and our inherited survival mechanism is the subject of my second book. That understanding will enable the reader to dissect much of what is mistakenly explained in response to our natural responses to a threat.

Emily Carrington, a program director in the National Science Foundation (NSF)'s Division of Integrative Organismal Systems, which funded the research

Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2017-02-heel-down-posture-great-apes-humans.html#jCp

Emily Carrington, a program director in the National Science Foundation (NSF)'s Division of Integrative Organismal Systems, which funded the research

Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2017-02-heel-down-posture-great-apes-humans.html#jCp

Emily Carrington, a program director in the National Science Foundation (NSF)'s Division of Integrative Organismal Systems, which funded the research

Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2017-02-heel-down-posture-great-apes-humans.html#jCp