Basic Corrections Officer: Certification Practice

What is one physical response of the body during a fight, flight, or freeze situation?

1. Decreased heart rate

2. Increased lung activity

3. Calmness of muscles

4. Reduced blood pressure

The correct answer is: Increased lung activity

In a fight, flight, or freeze situation, the body undergoes significant physiological changes as part of the stress response, commonly referred to as the "fight or flight" response. Increased lung activity is one of the key responses because it helps the body take in more oxygen. This oxygen is vital for supplying the muscles with the energy they need to either confront a threat (fight), escape from it (flight), or become immobile (freeze). When faced with a perceived danger, the body’s sympathetic nervous system is activated, leading to a series of changes, including dilating airways and increasing the rate and depth of breathing. This physiological adjustment prepares the body to respond effectively to a threat by optimizing oxygen delivery to vital systems. The other options describe responses that do not typically align with the intense activation of the body's stress response.