“Humans have a "fight or flight" response, but not a "freeze" response.”

The common understanding of how humans react to danger often centers on the well-known "fight or flight" response. This concept, popularized by American physiologist Walter Cannon in the early 20th century, describes the body's immediate physiological preparation to either confront a threat or escape from it. Cannon's work highlighted the role of the sympathetic nervous system in mobilizing energy and resources for rapid action, leading to its widespread recognition as the primary human defense mechanism. This historical emphasis on active responses contributed to the misconception that these are our only innate reactions to peril.

However, scientific understanding has expanded to include another crucial, involuntary defensive reaction: the "freeze" response. This is an immediate state of immobility that occurs when an individual perceives a threat as overwhelming or inescapable. Far from being a lack of response, freezing is a complex physiological state involving both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, often characterized by attentive stillness, a slowed heart rate, and heightened sensory perception, preparing the body for a subsequent action or to avoid detection. It is an evolutionarily ingrained survival mechanism, akin to "playing dead" in the animal kingdom, that can be adaptive in situations where fighting or fleeing is not a viable option.

People commonly believe the myth that only fight or flight exists because these active responses are often more overt and readily observable than the passive, often internal, experience of freezing. The less active nature of the freeze response might have led early researchers to overlook or not fully appreciate its significance compared to the dramatic physiological changes associated with fighting or fleeing. Furthermore, societal narratives sometimes implicitly value active resistance over immobility, potentially leading individuals who experience freezing to feel shame or confusion about their reaction, further contributing to its under-recognition in public discourse.

Understanding the freeze response is vital for a complete picture of human survival mechanisms. It is not a sign of weakness or an absence of response, but rather a powerful, automatic protective strategy that can precede, interrupt, or follow fight or flight. Recognizing all three responses helps us better comprehend the complex and nuanced ways our bodies and minds react to perceived danger, moving beyond a simplified view of human resilience.