Actually freeze is the first thing babies do in response to feeling threatened, it's the most basic of the 4 and goes back to our animal ancestors (this is all part of Polyvagal theory if you're interested to find out more). These are all survival mechanisms, nothing to feel guilty about (quite the opposite).

Personally I think there should be a fifth one in the list though, which is feigning death. I think it tends to get confused with freezing but the function is actually very different - you are not so much trying not to be seen by whatever is threatening (by keeping still and quiet) but rather you know you have been seen/caught but are trying to feign not being a target or a threat to them by 'going limp'. I have done this myself when threatened with abuse as a child. Feigning death is a core function of the most basal branch of the vagus nerve so has deep evolutionary and developmental roots.

More thoughts...

'Fawn' is interesting to me, I think in many respects it's the most sophisticated, brave and cunning one, the others take you out of the way of harm (yes even fight does by chasing off the threat) but to 'fawn' makes me think of the times when it helped to stroke egos, to soothe, to play along, to 'submit', and to do that really takes guile and an ability to read moods and I think possibly there is some taking back of power in that too (makes me think of The Handmaiden). Have to think about that......

Sorry you sparked of a train of thought now - just thinking out loud...

thanks