What are Fight, Flight, Freeze & Fawn?

Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn are automatic survival responses that help us react to perceived danger or overwhelming stress. These responses are driven by the nervous system and occur largely outside of conscious awareness, preparing the body to protect itself in challenging situations.

The interactive cards below explain each response through simple illustrations, everyday examples, and practical psychology insights.

Key Takeaways

• These are natural survival responses to stress or perceived threat.

• Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn are automatic, not conscious choices.

• Different people may respond differently to the same situation.

• These responses can be helpful in danger but may become unhelpful when triggered too often.

Common Misconceptions

"Fight or Flight are the only stress responses."

While the original model described the fight-or-flight response, modern trauma-informed psychology also discusses freeze and fawn as additional patterns that may occur during overwhelming or threatening situations.

Why Does This Matter?

Understanding these survival responses can improve self-awareness and help explain why people react differently to stress. These concepts are widely used in psychology, trauma-informed care, and mental health education.

References

Cannon WB. Bodily Changes in Pain, Hunger, Fear and Rage. New York: D. Appleton and Company; 1915.

Walker P. Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving. Azure Coyote Publishing; 2013.