Technically yes, but it’s unformed. Early studies currently are looking into how this may lead to early formation of anxiety disorders.
But we don’t really know for sure
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They probably do, in a way.
The typical reaction of a baby will be to start crying loudly, which will alert the rest of the tribe that will then make life uncomfortable for the offender. So part of a more complex social fight response.
I have also seen babys suddenly become very quite and lay completely still when startled by a situation that confuses them and that they can't sort out yet.
Seems to me to be some kind of hide response, nearest they can do to taking flight.
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Babies have basically 2 responses to being scared:
- cry
- freeze
They serve a similar purpose as fight or flight, where crying would alert the parents and they moght fight, and freezing might avoid the fight, essentially flight.
Checkout yt videos of people throwing cheese at crying babies, they are essentially confusing the baby to a point of freezeing, similar to how they might react to a bew and unfamiliar danger.
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No because the neural systems for those defenses are still too immature. The have a startle reflex called the Moro reflex but it isn’t quite the same thing.
Here is some more info you might find interesting https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7914291/
I don't think it ends at fight/flight
Fight Flight Fawn Freeze Flop
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I think when babies are scared, they usually just cry and hope someone protects them
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A baby might not be able to, but 6 year old me ran away from home when my older brother was chasing me around the apartment and I felt scared and like... I just ran for the door...
was outside wandaring for hours...
scariest day of my life...
(mom called the police and they were just searching the neighborhood)
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*either
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Technically adults can't take to flight either, if you interpret it literally. 😌
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Would make sense. They can't do either yet, but it has to form at some point to be usable later.
uh, they are potatoes
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Is it just me that thinks babies are creepy as fuck? They scare me. Tiny people larva. Gross.
Try one of the questions communities. This isn't a showerthought
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