The 4 F’s in everyday life

Paper Tigers theme is my exploration of people operating in survival mode — seeking control over their environment as a reaction to felt insecurity and the relational patterns that arise. This lack of safety often triggers the well-known four F's: fight, flight, freeze, and fawn, as a response

In my research, I found Peter Walker’s insights particularly compelling. He points out that while these responses are rooted in survival, we actually need and use healthier, adapted versions of them in everyday life:

• Fight becomes asserting one’s needs

• Fawn becomes compromising with others

• Flight becomes doing or moving

• Freeze becomes being or observing

Interestingly, fight and fawn are opposites, as are flight and freeze.

In a regulated state we vacillate between the poles in a state of calm allowing ourselves to feel safe and open authentically to the outside world.