Fear: Our Built in Survival Mechanism

This resource outlines the core aspects of our fear response, providing a structured framework to explore its impact on thoughts, feelings, behaviours and physical reactions. 

It is designed to support therapists in delivering psychoeducation around fear and phobias, framed within the context of the “fight-or-flight” response.  

Free

Fear: Our Built in Survival Mechanism

Free

Fear: Our Built in Survival Mechanism

Download

Black & White Version

Specifically designed to keep ink usage low without compromising on great design.

Full Colour Version

Great for sharing on computer screens, phones & tablets.

References and Further Reading

  • Bracha, H. S. (2004). Freeze, flight, fight, fright, faint: Adaptationist perspectives on the acute stress response spectrum. CNS Spectrums, 9(9), 679-685. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1092852900001954.
  • Steimer, T. (2002). The biology of fear- and anxiety-related behaviors. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 4(3), 231-249. https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2002.4.3/tsteimer.
  • Keifer Jr., O. P., Hurt, R. C., Ressler, K. J., & Marvar, P. J. (2015). The physiology of fear: Reconceptualizing the role of the central amygdala in fear learning. Physiology, 30(5), 389-409. https://doi.org/10.1152/physiol.00058.2014.