Fight, flight, or freeze?

Switchblades are illegal in most places, so I hope you're aware of the local laws where you live.

I'm all for self-defense, and I will fight back if necessary. If someone ambushes you from behind and starts whaling on you mercilessly, then by all means, do what it take to protect yourself, weapons or no weapons. Any laws that oppose self-defense and treat the victim like a criminal is BS.

 

In situations where my adrenalin levels shoot up, I go into a state somewhere between freeze and flight. Depending on the situation, I usually take a few seconds to analyse the situation and decide whether I should run, and if so, how I should do it. I try to avoid fighting and will only harm someone if it is necessary for running away.

If it's something like a spider or a bee, I'll move very slowly and either kill it or get out of range, depending on which would be easier to do. If someone sneaks up on me and tries to scare me or jab me in the ribs or something, I usually just try to react as little as possible and figure out who they are.

 

If we're talking about a mugger, robber or something else, honestly I'll run. I like to think I could fight off an attacker if it really came down to it, but in reality, it's a much safer option, physically, intellectually and legally, to run. Physically, fighting back only makes an attacker angrier and thus you're more likely to get hurt if they attack you. Intellectually, it's just not wise to fight back, you're more likely to get out safer if you run. Legally, there's always a lawyer that can find a way to make the victim look like the attacker. It happens all the time with rape victims, and that may be a dark analogy, but that's the truth.

If it's a bee, a spider or whatever, unless it's actually on me or headed at me, I'll still run. Imo you just get out safer, or have a higher chance of doing so, if you run.

I just wouldn't see any point in fighting when you could get out of that situation and keep yourself safe.

 

I have an aggressive personality, and my natural, immediate response to most things tend to follow that. I almost always have a fight response. I'm rather strong for my age, I know how to engage in street fighting, and I've trained in the art of punching the shit out of things enough that I can knock people senseless in a single hit. I can back up my fight instincts very nicely, and they've never failed me even once.

 

Most of the bad shit that happens to me happens before I get to make a choice. I've never really been in a situation where fight v. flight was necessary -- it was all just, like, BOOM!, you're fucked. So, that being said, I don't know which one I'd choose.

Knowing me, it would depend on the situation, as I tend to think and analyze every outcome before I do anything. There's a running joke among my friends that if a bomb went off, while everyone else ran away or whatever, I'd sitting there trying to determine if the fire eating away at my pantleg was caused by gasoline or napalm. Given that, in like 75% of situations, flight is the most logical (if least noble) choice, I'm probably more of a flier. However, I can think of a solid two or three situations in which I'd choose fight. Though, again, this is all just hypothesis.

 

It depends on what kind of situation we're talking about and how well I happen to deal with said situation on that day. For example back in school I occasionally stood my ground against bullies while on other occasions I completely caved in to my fear of them. I can be pretty easy to psyche out and intimidate to be honest. I don't have to deal with hostile environments or areas any more but occasionally everyone runs into some jerk or jerks who are simply looking for trouble. These days I'm much more willing to fight if I have to. The key part of that last sentence was "if I have to." I take violence very seriously so I'd rather not resolve conflicts like that unless the situation calls for it.

 

I wouldn't be caught dead outside in a situation like that, but flee.
I'm somewhat confident in my speed, and I'd rather not get into a fight anyway...

 

I am bit punch happy in these kind of situations.
To be honest im pretty good at fighting, so i think i will fight.
I dont like that part of me that much. I am pretty sure if that kind of situation would happen, that someone would end up in the hospital.

 

I would totally run. I run a lot. I'm a Prosecutor and I'd rather deal with you in court, thanks.

Yeah, I'm not physically aggressive. I have too many physical ailments to actually do that tho XD. And I think fast and Freezing isn't in my nature. I'm flighty physically and mentally, so yeah, running.

 

Depends on the person. And where I am. If it's somebody who doesn't look like they'd knock me out in one punch, I'd stay and fight. If somebody points a gun at me, I'd try to find cover, then run and keep turning corners. If a robber comes into my house, I'm gonna stay and fight. I know where weapons in the house are and I can use them if I need to. Gotta defend your home. xD

 

Depends on the situation.

At first I'll probably freeze, but I'm pretty strong-willed, so eventually adrenaline kicks in and if I'm at all able to fight, I will.

That goes for both physical and mental situations.

 

I think I'd go with flight or possibly fight depending on how angry I was. I'm really not sure though, I don't get put in many tense situations, if any.

 

Fight.
I can't run for shit, they'll catch me anyway so I might as well try and take them down before they do me.

 

I am a pacifist and try to avoid any conflict that I can. I have been in more fights than I want to be. Some were more light threatening than others but it is what it was. I lived in a neighborhood that hated me and my older sister equally so when my sister wasn't around I'd get the beating waiting on buses for school.

Now, I am hardly in fights because I avoid them more often.

 

If I'm ever in a situation like this, I'll either freeze or run. I'm not a fighter, so I'd get wrecked in a straight fight. If I'm being pursued while running, I'll probably try to kinda fight back while running or try to lose them, haha.

 

It depends on the situation, but I'd guess flight. I'm honestly not much of a fighter. I'll defend myself if need be, and I know how, but my first instinct isn't to fight.

 

Well depends on the situation

Someone sneaks up behind me and grabs me I will try and get an elbow in the gut . Someone tries to punch me , i'd try to back away and only fight if need be . In a nutshell, I'd run unless my little brother was in danger .

 

Fight. In most occasions, I'd choose that.
-I'm willing to risk my life for my cause at times-

 

I'm more of a flight sort of person. I'm pretty scared of the world. I rarely pick up the phone or answer the door since I'm afraid of horror scenes when I suddenly get stabbed. I really hate confrontation since I'm pretty weak physically and really can't stand on my own.