Final answer:
Physiological responses to chronic, non-immediate stresses are different and can result in negative health effects, unlike the short-term fight-or-flight response, which is adaptive and aimed at immediate survival.
Step-by-step explanation:
Physiological responses to non-immediate stresses are largely different when compared to immediate, life-threatening situations. Our ancestors evolved to handle immediate threats through the fight-or-flight response, which is a short-term reaction that enables survival by preparing the body to either confront or escape danger. This includes a rapid increase in heart rate and the suspension of non-essential body functions. However, modern stressors tend to be psychological and continuous, such as preparing for a presentation or dealing with long-term work stress, triggering the same physiological changes despite a lack of physical threat.
This chronic stimulation of the stress response can lead to negative health consequences, including increased susceptibility to heart disease and compromised immune function. This maladaptive reaction to chronic stress is a result of the body's attempt to maintain homeostasis, but the evolutionary programmed response does not distinguish between types of stressors well, leading to adverse health effects when the fight-or-flight response is perpetually activated.