Understanding fight or flight. The fight or flight theory formulated by Walter Cannon describes how people react to perceived threat. Basically, when faced with something that can harm us, we either aggress, fight, or withdraw, flight. It is believed that this reaction is an ingrained instinct geared towards survival. The fight or flight instinct is manifested in bodily ways. When faced with a threat, our body releases the hormones, adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol. These chemicals are designed to take us to a state of alertness and action. They result in increased energy, heart rate, slow digestion, and above normal strength. Understanding the fight or flight instinct can help us understand the dynamics of our anger response. The following are some of the implications of the fight and flight theory on anger management. First, the theory underscores how anger is but a natural response. There’s no morality to anger. Anger is a result of perceived harm to self, whether physical or emotional. Second, this theory reminds us of the need to stay in control. When we are angry, our rational self gets overridden by a basic survival instinct. There’s a need to act immediately. This instinct can then result in aggressiveness, over-reactivity, and hypervigilance, which are all contrary to rational and deliberate response. Conscious effort towards self-awareness and control is needed so that this instinct does not overpower us.
