Freeze and Fawn Responses

The human stress response is often simplified to the concept of “fight or flight,” yet many psychologists and researchers now recognize two additional adaptations: freeze and fawn. These responses can manifest in everyday life—especially in situations involving trauma, perceived threats, or overwhelming stress. In this article, we explore what freeze and fawn responses entail, how they manifest in the short term, and how chronic exposure to stressors can intensify or reshape these responses over time. We will delve into the physiological, psychological, and neurological processes behind freeze and fawn reactions, while providing visual representations and structured references for deeper understanding.

Understanding Freeze and Fawn Responses

Freeze Response

The freeze response is characterized by a sudden halt in movement, speech, or decision-making in response to a perceived threat. Rather than fleeing or fighting, the individual momentarily becomes immobile. From an evolutionary standpoint, freezing can serve as an adaptive mechanism to:

• Avoid detection by predators (reduced motion can signal invisibility).
• Buy time to assess a threat more accurately.
• Conserve energy for potential subsequent fight or flight actions.

Fawn Response

The fawn response involves appeasing or placating behavior aimed at defusing a perceived threat. Instead of confronting or evading a danger, individuals may try to please the source of stress or harm in an effort to maintain safety. This reaction is often seen in:

• Situations involving relational or interpersonal conflicts, such as abusive dynamics.
• Childhood environments where survival depended on appeasing a caregiver.
• Workplace or social settings with a dominant figure perceived as threatening.

Physiological, Psychological, and Neurological Impacts

Short-Term Effects

Short-term freeze and fawn responses are typically triggered by the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. These immediate reactions can involve:

• Increased adrenaline and cortisol secretion (for rapid energy mobilization).
• Elevated heart rate and blood pressure (in freeze, sometimes followed by a sudden drop if the individual “faints” or stays immobilized).
• Heightened alertness (hypervigilance to the environment).
• Muscle tension and respiratory changes (possible rapid or shallow breathing).

Chronic Responses

Over time, chronic exposure to threats or high-stress environments can make freeze or fawn responses more ingrained. Long-term effects may include:

• Altered cortisol regulation leading to fatigue or persistent anxiety.
• Heightened susceptibility to stress-related disorders (e.g., PTSD).
• Avoidance behaviors that limit personal growth or social engagement.
• Relationship and self-esteem challenges stemming from persistent appeasement or conflict aversion.

Table: Comparing Short-Term vs. Chronic Freeze/Fawn Responses

Aspect	Short-Term Freeze	Chronic Freeze	Short-Term Fawn	Chronic Fawn
Primary Trigger	Sudden perception of threat	Frequent exposure to threatening stimuli or stressors	Sudden threat in interpersonal settings	Repeated experiences in hostile or demanding relationships
Physiological Response	Increased adrenaline & cortisol, possible immobility	Dysregulated cortisol over time, heightened risk of anxiety and depression	Surge of stress hormones (attempt to appease quickly)	Chronic stress symptoms, exhaustion, and difficulty setting personal boundaries
Behavioral Expression	Momentary “freeze” or stilled reaction	Prolonged avoidance, social withdrawal, or passivity	Immediate compliance or submissive behavior	Persistent people-pleasing, inability to assert self
Emotional Experience	Overwhelm, shock, or numbness	Ongoing fear, helplessness, or shutdown	Fear, urgency to please	Ingrained low self-esteem, resentment, or self-neglect
Potential Consequences	Allows time to assess threat or remain undetected	Chronic stress disorders, low resilience, diminished decision-making capacity	Diffuses threat temporarily	Codependent relationships, burnout, reduced sense of identity

Mermaid Diagram: Generalized Flow of Freeze and Fawn Responses

flowchart TD
    A(Perceived Threat) --> B{Nervous System Activation}
    B --> C["Freeze Response\n(Momentary Immobility)"]
    B --> D["Fawn Response\n(Appeasement)"]
    C --> E["Short-Term Effects\n(e.g., Rapid Heart Rate)"]
    D --> F["Short-Term Effects\n(e.g., Submissive Behavior)"]
    E --> G["Chronic Implications\n(If Threat Persists)"]
    F --> G["Chronic Implications\n(If Threat Persists)"]
    G --> H["Ingrained Habits\n(Freeze/Fawn as Default)"]

Neurobiological Underpinnings

• Amygdala: Rapidly processes potential danger, sending alerts to other brain regions.
• Prefrontal Cortex: Helps modulate the stress response; can be overridden when threats are perceived as severe or chronic.
• Hippocampus: Involved in memory consolidation; chronic stress can affect its structure, influencing how threat memories are processed and recalled.
• Autonomic Nervous System: Balances sympathetic (arousal) and parasympathetic (relaxation) states; freeze often involves a complex interplay of both, while fawn typically entails sympathetic activation fueling appeasement behaviors.

Strategies for Management and Recovery

1. Therapeutic Interventions: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Somatic Experiencing, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and trauma-informed therapy approaches can help reprogram maladaptive freeze or fawn patterns.
2. Mindfulness and Grounding Techniques: Simple practices—such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and visualization—can mitigate acute stress responses.
3. Psychoeducation: Understanding the evolutionary purpose and biological underpinnings of freeze/fawn can reduce self-blame and promote adaptive coping.
4. Support Systems: Building secure relationships and supportive social networks can help break cycles of appeasement and avoidance.

References

Research

Kozlowska, K., Walker, P., McLean, L., & Carrive, P. (2015). Fear and the defense cascade: Clinical implications and management. *Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 23*(4), 263-287. Summary (3-5 sentences): This peer-reviewed article discusses the evolutionary basis of the defense cascade, including freeze, flight, fight, fright, and faint responses. The authors explore how different threat levels and contexts trigger specific autonomic and behavioral reactions. They offer insights into clinical management strategies for disorders involving maladaptive stress responses, emphasizing the need for a nuanced approach.

Schauer, M., & Elbert, T. (2010). Dissociation following traumatic stress. *Zeitschrift für Psychologie, 218*(2), 109-127. Summary (3-5 sentences): This research article examines how dissociation, including freeze-like responses, may develop after traumatic events. The authors review the psychobiological mechanisms that lead to peritraumatic shutdown and dissociation. Their findings highlight the link between trauma, stress response systems, and subsequent psychological difficulties.

Additional Resources

Books

Van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). *The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma*. New York, NY: Viking. Summary (3-5 sentences): Van der Kolk explores how traumatic stress reshapes both body and mind. The book provides a comprehensive look at the neurobiology of trauma and discusses the roles of freeze and other defensive responses in a clinical context. It offers practical insights into therapies designed to help individuals recover from chronic trauma responses.

Reviews

Bracha, H. S. (2004). Freeze, flight, fight, fright, faint: Adaptationist perspectives on the acute stress response spectrum. *CNS Spectrums, 9*(9), 679-685. Summary (3-5 sentences): Bracha’s review article presents an evolutionary and clinical framework for understanding the spectrum of stress responses. The paper synthesizes data from various studies to explain why humans and other animals exhibit freeze, flight, fight, fright, and faint behaviors. It remains an important reference for clinicians and researchers studying the protective nature of these responses.

Reputable Websites

American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Understanding and managing stress. https://www.apa.org/topics/stress Summary (3-5 sentences): The American Psychological Association offers resources on stress, its effects, and evidence-based management strategies. Although not limited to freeze and fawn specifically, it provides foundational knowledge applicable to understanding all stress responses. Its guidelines align with current clinical practices for coping with short-term and chronic stress.

License

This document, Freeze and Fawn Responses, by Christopher Steel is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License.