Freeze response in dangerous situations is actually very useful, study shows

When folks face an acute menace, they have an inclination to react in one among 3 ways: battle, flight or freeze. A doctoral analysis undertaking performed at Radboud University by Felix Klaassen to be defended on June 5 shows that the freeze response might be actually useful in coping with a state of affairs in a well-considered method. “People suppose we’re paralyzed in a freeze response, however that is not true in any respect.”

An individual who freezes in the face of an acute menace could seem completely overwhelmed. However, in keeping with Klaassen, “It is not true that nothing occurs after we freeze. Under the bonnet, all kinds of processes are going down that assist us cope with the state of affairs.”

When confronted with an acute menace, resembling a barking canine, or in these nervous moments simply earlier than we stroll right into a room to present a presentation, folks expertise anxiousness. In such situations, they may stability a optimistic consequence towards a unfavourable one: sure, it might be scary to present that presentation, however the consequence could also be price it, so that they enter the room, anyway.

“The preliminary response that every one folks must a larger or lesser extent in such situations is the freeze response. Your physique stiffens and your coronary heart charge goes down. Your sensory processing is activated. In animals, you’ll be able to see the ears prick up and the pupils enlarge.”

Like the battle or flight response, the freeze response is utterly automated and you don’t have any management over it. According to Klaassen, “Our study shows that lots occurs in the mind in a freeze response. Relevant data is processed extra strongly.”

As a part of the study, respondents carried out a job on a pc. They may win a sum of cash by shifting in the direction of or away from a state of affairs by urgent a button. When they moved in the direction of it, they may both obtain the cash, or their finger would obtain a small electrical shock—not terribly painful, however moderately disagreeable.

Respondents didn’t know in advance which consequence they’d get. If they determined to maneuver away from the situations as a substitute, they’d keep away from the shocks however would additionally miss out on the possibility to win the cash.

“While that was occurring, we measured what was taking place contained in the physique and in the mind. We noticed that the stronger the freeze response, the extra strongly the mind would stability rewards and punishments towards one another.

“Weighing up rewards and punishments towards one another extra strongly permits us to do a greater job of assessing the potential penalties of our actions. This might assist us make the correct selections. We noticed that the freeze response would not essentially outcome in avoidance,” the neuroscientist states.

According to Klaassen, “Our analysis shows {that a} freeze response ensures that you’re extra alert to doable risks and doable rewards, in order that you’ll be able to take a extra balanced choice. It would not paralyze us, however moderately places a brief brake on the system, and if you launch that brake, you’ll be able to determine on the correct plan of action extra rapidly.

“So freezing can actually be a superb factor, as a result of it may assist you to deal higher with the dangerous situations you encounter in life.”