Final answer:
The fight-or-flight response, which prepares the body to either fight off a threat or run away, is a true mechanism of the human body, incorporating physiological changes to confront or evade danger. The statement is true.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the purpose of the fight-or-flight response is to prepare the body to escape or to battle is true.
The fight-or-flight response is an involuntary human body response mediated by the nervous and endocrine systems, which prepares the body to face or escape from perceived danger.
When this response is triggered, several physiological changes occur, allowing the body access to energy reserves and heightened sensory capacity, enabling an individual to either fight off a threat or run away to safety.
Walter Cannon coined the term 'fight or flight' in 1915 to describe this innate response. While Cannon’s original phrase was succinct, over time the phrase has been expanded to include 'fright' and 'freeze,' acknowledging the body’s broader range of reactions to stress.
The sympathetic nervous system orchestrates these responses, stimulating an increase in blood glucose levels and energy to either confront or avoid the threat.
In modern environments, we may not face the same dangers as our ancestors, such as large predators, but the autonomic nervous system still responds to modern stressors with the fight-or-flight response.
This complex set of reactions has evolved to ensure that the body can maintain homeostasis during times of stress by preparing for potential physical activity required for survival.