Cognitive Factors Affecting Freeze-like Behavior in Humans

Abstract

Contemporary research on survival-related defensive behaviors has identified physiological markers of freeze/flight/fight. Our research focused on cognitive factors associated with freeze-like behavior in humans. Study 1 tested if an explicit decision to freeze is associated with the psychophysiological state of freezing. Heart rate deceleration occurred when participants chose to freeze. Study 2 varied the efficacy of freezing relative to other defense options and found "freeze" was responsive to variations in the perceived effectiveness of alternative actions. Study 3 tested if individual differences in motivational orientation affect preference for a "freeze" option when the efficacy of options is held constant. A trend in the predicted direction suggested that naturally occurring cognitions led loss-avoiders to select "freeze" more often than reward-seekers. In combination, our attention to the cognitive factors affecting freeze-like behavior in humans represents a preliminary step in addressing an important but neglected research area.

Stress, cognitive, emotional and ergonomic demands in interpreting and translation

“…An additional response has been described as the "freeze-mode" which is a self-paralyzing response in situations in which one cannot defend oneself. Under such circumstances, "freezing" permits an organism not to feel the enormity of what is happening or to deceive a potential predator (Alban & Pocknell, 2017).…”