What are the four behavioral categories of responses to fear and anxiety (FAS)?

What are the four behavioral categories of responses to fear and anxiety (FAS)?

• A. Fight, flight, freeze, fidget
• B. Fight, flight, run, hide
• C. Attack, retreat, pause, sleep
• D. Fight, flee, freeze, fidget

Answer: (A)

The four behavioral responses to fear and anxiety are fight, flight, freeze, and fidget. Fight is an active attempt to confront or challenge the threat. Flight means escaping or avoiding the danger. Freeze is a moment of stillness or immobility to avoid drawing attention. Fidget captures restless, anxious movement or pacing when the animal cannot settle. The other option sets mix synonyms or add actions not typically categorized in this framework—attack and retreat are essentially variations of fight and flight, run or hide are specific escape actions, and sleep isn’t a typical immediate fear response. So, naming fight, flight, freeze, and fidget reflects the standard four-category pattern.

The four behavioral responses to fear and anxiety are fight, flight, freeze, and fidget. Fight is an active attempt to confront or challenge the threat. Flight means escaping or avoiding the danger. Freeze is a moment of stillness or immobility to avoid drawing attention. Fidget captures restless, anxious movement or pacing when the animal cannot settle. The other option sets mix synonyms or add actions not typically categorized in this framework—attack and retreat are essentially variations of fight and flight, run or hide are specific escape actions, and sleep isn’t a typical immediate fear response. So, naming fight, flight, freeze, and fidget reflects the standard four-category pattern.