Fight or Flight: The False Dichotomy

-

 

Topic: Fight or Flight: The False Dichotomy

Today we will be talking about the false dichotomy of fight versus flight.

All our lives, most of us have been told that there are only two possible responses to fear stimuli: fight, or flight. You can either punch that clown or run away.

This is unmitigated bullshit. There are, in fact, five possible responses to fear stimuli: fight, flight, freeze, flop, or friend. Let's unpack these other three options a little bit:

Freeze. Pretty self-explanatory, but there is an added benefit to this option: it gives you a moment to think about what to do next. The downside to freezing is that sometimes it's hard to unfreeze and move forward. But sometimes, the best thing to do is hold still with your eyes closed until the clown goes away.

Flop. Just go limp, physically or mentally. Demonstrate that you aren't a threat, in the hopes that the aggressor will leave you be. The mental counterpart to the physical flop is to hold your tongue and let them think they won the argument. Flopping is a good option when the point of contention is minimal to the point of being petty, like whether or not pickles belong on a hamburger. Flop says: "You're not right; I just don't care."

Friend. This one is my favorite. Deflect aggression by bringing up things you have in common, or directing the conversation toward common goals. Reach out to them as a fellow human and try to connect with them on some level. Sometimes this takes a great deal of Patience, as we must recognize that others are on their own Path and level of Enlightenment.

Of course, sometimes flight or even fight is the best option for the situation. Just know that there are other options, some of which may better fit the circumstances we are faced with in our daily lives.

What’s interesting about the false dichotomy of fight or flight is that most of us are already actively practicing the other options without realizing it. If you talk your way out of a fight, you’re friending. When you’re struck speechless and don’t know what to say next, you’re freezing. People who faint at the sight of blood or other stimuli are flopping, albeit unintentionally. Although the fight-or-flight myth persists, in media and in our collective consciousness, an Enlightened individual can exercise Self-Control and Mindfulness and consciously select the most appropriate reaction to perceived threat of trauma.

Namaste.

Reverend CJ Carlin

 

Sources:

Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn, and Flop: Responses to Trauma | All Points North (apn.com)

Fight, Flight, Freeze, or Fawn: How We Respond to Threats - Simply Psychology


 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

On Sacrifice and the Path

-
  On Sacrifice and the Path   Sacrifice is a prevailing theme of many world religions, whether you are giving up life, time, or money. The idea is that you have to pay for salvation somehow; nothing is free, after all. Some religions have an entire laundry list of things you cannot do, things you must give up entirely in order to practice their faith. Some ask for money, either through tithes or “charitable donations.” The entire Christian faith is based on what is an objectively barbaric form of human sacrifice. The message is clear: to be saved, you must offer up something in return, or forgo something you once indulged in. A sacrifice must be made. Pagan spiritual traditions incorporate energetic reciprocity: to invoke the favors of the gods, certain offerings are made. These offerings can be physical or energetic in nature, either cream and honey to please the Fae folk, or personal psychic energy expended during a healing rite. These sacrifices are more personal (as ...
Read more

Beware the False Dichotomy

-
  The appeal of the dichotomy is understandable. It’s psychologically soothing to have two clear options, so we can act accordingly. Unfortunately, life is messy and complicated, and many of the dichotomies we embrace as a society are not only false, they are actively damaging. Consider the false dichotomy of “fight or flight,” of which I’ve written before. If you believe you only have two possible responses to perceived threat of trauma, you won’t realize that freeze, flop, and friend may be more appropriate to the situation. You could end up punching your boss, because running away is for cowards. Even worse, however, are the dichotomies we apply to sex, sexuality, and gender: you’re either gay or straight, male or female. What we are finally beginning to acknowledge is that these things exist on a spectrum, and the old labels just don’t work anymore. But there are still those who cling to these false dichotomies and refuse to recognize anyone’s identity if it doesn’t fit in ...
Read more

Path Doctrine on the Seven Deadly Sins

-
  Topic: Path Doctrine on the Seven Deadly Sins Today’s sermon is about the Christian list of seven “deadly sins” and how they relate to Path teachings. Some of these so-called sins are of the body, some are of the mind. But they must be subject to rational dissection so we can extract whatever value they may have. Lust is a body sin, and an easy one. The sex lives of others are none of our business, as long as everyone involved is a consenting adult and no harm is being done. If you are not hurting anyone or treating other people as things, feel free to lust after and even have sex with as many people as you want. Greed is one of the sins that you only commit in your head; the only problem with greed is that it can turn you into a power-hungry asshole. But there are wealthy people who still try to make the world a better place, so there is nothing wrong with greed itself. Gluttony is a body sin, and is contrary to the Virtue of Balance. If you find yourself overindulging, ...
Read more