Understanding the Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn Response

Experiencing assault is a traumatic event that can trigger intense and instinctive reactions in the body. These reactions are commonly known as the fight or flight response. However, there are two more reactions that often get overlooked, known as “freeze” and “fawn.” Understanding these responses is crucial for survivors and those who support them, as it underscores that the body’s reaction to trauma is natural and beyond one’s control. Importantly, it emphasizes that whatever response occurred during the assault, it is not the survivor’s fault.

The Science Behind the Fight, Flight, Freeze, or Fawn Response

The fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response is a survival mechanism deeply embedded in our brain. It is controlled by the autonomic nervous system, specifically the sympathetic nervous system, which prepares the body to react to perceived threats.¹ When faced with danger, the brain’s amygdala signals the hypothalamus to activate the release of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.^{1, 2} These hormones prepare the body to either confront the threat (fight), escape from it (flight), become immobile (freeze), or appease it through compliance (fawn).² Understanding all four responses allows for a more comprehensive view of how individuals react to trauma and highlights the varied ways in which people may seek to protect themselves in dangerous situations. 

The Fight Response

The fight response is the body’s way of preparing to defend itself against a threat. When this response is triggered, the person may attempt to physically or verbally resist the attacker. Symptoms can include increased heart rate, heightened alertness, and a surge of energy.²

The Flight Response

The flight response is the body’s attempt to escape danger. During an assault, a survivor might try to run away or find safety.³ This response also involves a rapid heartbeat, quickened breathing, and a rush of energy directed towards getting away from the threat.

The Freeze Response

The freeze response occurs when the body becomes immobilized. During an assault, a person might find themselves paralyzed, unable to react in any way. The freeze response can be confusing for survivors and those around them because it can be mistaken for inaction or passivity.^{2, 3} The response “why didn’t you fight back” is often associated with the freeze response. A person can also experience tonic immobility, when they perceive life-threatening danger. Tonic immobility is a state of motor inhibition and muscular rigidity when a person perceives they are in imminent danger.⁵

The Fawn Response

The fawn response is characterized by people-pleasing behaviors and an attempt to appease the threat.^2-4 This response often arises from a desire to avoid conflict or further danger by making oneself agreeable to an aggressor. This response is often misunderstood and may be used against a victim-survivor by those who wrongfully equate appeasing with consent. 

Why the Brain Reacts This Way

Our brains are wired to prioritize survival. The fight, flight, or freeze response is an automatic reaction that takes over when the brain perceives extreme danger. These responses occur in milliseconds and are not a conscious choice. The amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for emotional processing, plays a crucial role in triggering these responses.⁶ When it senses a threat, it overrides the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for rational thinking and decision-making. This means that during an assault, the brain’s priority is immediate survival, not deliberate or reasoned action.^{5, 6}

One of the most important messages for assault survivors to understand is that their reaction—whether it was to fight, flight, or freeze is a natural and automatic response to extreme stress and danger.⁶ These responses are not reflective of personal strength, weakness, or character. They are involuntary and driven by the brain’s innate desire to protect the individual.

It’s Never The Survivor’s Fault

Survivors often struggle with feelings of guilt or shame about how they reacted during the assault and sometimes develop post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).^1-3 They may question why they didn’t fight back harder or why they couldn’t run away. It’s essential to recognize that these responses are beyond conscious control. The body did what it needed to do to survive in that moment. As a result, to protect themselves in the future survivors may be overly hyper vigilant.^1-3 

For those supporting survivors, it is crucial to provide a non-judgmental and compassionate environment. Validate the survivor’s feelings and reassure them that their response to the assault was a natural reaction to an abnormal situation. Avoid questioning or criticizing how they responded during the trauma. Instead, focus on listening, providing emotional support, and encouraging them to seek professional help.

Sources

1. Chapter 4: How the Brain Copes with Different Types of Trauma. (2024). Understanding PTSD, 27–38. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781501519857-005
2. Trauma, Instinct, and the Brain: The Fight/ Flight/Freeze Response. (2012). The Body Bears the Burden, 34–48. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203836361-8
3. Leavitt, K. S. (2008). Trauma and the Body: A Sensorimotor Approach to Psychotherapy. Clinical Social Work Journal, 36(2), 221–223. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-007-0141-1 
4. Van der Kolk, B. A. (1994). The Body Keeps the Score: Memory and the Evolving Psychobiology of Posttraumatic Stress. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 1(5), 253–265. https://doi.org/10.3109/10673229409017088 
5. Dokkedahl, S. B., Vang, M. L., & Elklit, A. (2022). Does tonic immobility mediate the effects of psychological violence on PTSD and complex PTSD? European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 6(4), 100297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejtd.2022.100297
6. Vanderpool, M. (2021). Body science of survivorship. Practicing Yoga as Resistance, 66–81. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003033073-8