Polyvagal theory: A science of safety

Humans, as social mammals, are on a quest for safety. The need to feel safe is the prepotent survival related motivator impacting on all aspects of human experience by biasing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Threat reactions not only disrupt cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functions but also compromise the basic homeostatic physiological functions supporting health, growth, and restoration. Without feeling safe, the nervous system is unable to optimize the regulation of visceral organs with the consequential damage to organs leading to observable and diagnosable organ disease and failure. A profound need to survive triggers a complex genetically programmed portfolio of physiological reactions and behaviors to cues of threat and safety. The talk will illustrate that feeling safe has a physiological signature, which is a product of our evolutionary history in which the autonomic nervous system was repurposed to support sociality.

Conference

English

Stephen Porges

Porges, S. (2023, August). Polyvagal theory: A science of safety. Plenary presented at the at the 28th EMDR International Association Conference, Arlington, VA