Final answer:
2) a fight-or-flight response
The physiological reaction to perceived threats, called the fight-or-flight response, prepares the body to either confront or escape danger, but chronic exposure to stress can lead to negative health effects.
Step-by-step explanation:
The general process by which a physiological reaction is produced in the body by the perception of aversive or threatening events is known as the fight-or-flight response.
This response involves a series of physiological changes such as increased heart rate and suppression of non-essential functions like digestion, aimed at preparing the body for rapid action. The key systems involved in this response include the CRH, the locus ceruleus-norepinephrine (LC-NE), and the immune systems.
The stress response can be adaptive in short-term scenarios where a rapid reaction to danger is necessary. However, persistent or repeated exposure to stressors, especially psychological ones in the modern world, can lead to negative health outcomes such as heart disease and weakened immune system functioning due to the constant high levels of stress hormones like cortisol.