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The Science of Safety & Social Connection: Polyvagal Theory

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Many traditional modalities often overlook that feelings of safety stem from intrinsic physiological states. Polyvagal Theory highlights that our sense of safety stems from a measurable neurophysiological basis. Furthermore, it integrates neuroanatomy and neurophysiology to explore the need for security, which provides a fresh scientific perspective to the mental health field. (Porges, 2022). The Polyvagal Theory’s viewpoint emphasizes that when we genuinely feel safe, our bodies regulate themselves through neural circuits and maintain internal balance, known as homeostasis. The theory is based on the idea that when individuals feel safe, their nervous systems facilitate the homeostatic functions necessary for maintaining health, promoting growth, and facilitating restoration. Additionally, feelings of safety arise from the process that helps individuals survive by fostering trusting social interactions. These interactions involve co-regulatory abilities that reduce the need for energy-consuming defense responses. (Porges, 2022). According to Polyvagal Theory, feelings of safety enhance interpersonal connection, support the body’s internal balance, and enable individuals to engage with others without experiencing or expressing threat and vulnerability. In this therapy sketch, we will explore the Polyvagal Theory and its application in a therapeutic context. 

What is Polyvagal Theory?

The Polyvagal Theory was developed in the 1990s by Stephen Porges. It provides a comprehensive understanding of how the autonomic nervous system, particularly the vagus nerve, regulates an individual’s health, social connections, emotional expression, and defensive behaviors. Polyvagal Theory provides an explanation for the physiological and psychological states underlying everyday behaviors and challenges to our well-being and mental health. Moving beyond the traditional dichotomy of sympathetic (‘’fight’’ or ‘’flight’’) and parasympathetic (‘’rest’’ and ‘’digest’’) systems, this theory examines how physiological states influence behavior, particularly in response to safety and threat. By integrating Polyvagal Theory into personal lives and disciplines such as education, medicine, and management, it is possible to understand how security, co-regulation, and connection are essential to a healthy human experience (Schore, 2024). 

The Polyvagal perspective explains the neurobiological and behavioral changes that occurred during the evolutionary transition from asocial reptiles to social mammals. Unlike reptiles, this transition allows mammals to derive biological benefits from social interactions. This evolutionary development made social behavior more than just a means of communication. Consequently, social behavior functions as a neuromodulator that can efficiently regulate and optimize autonomic function, thereby supporting homeostatic processes. This process results in an autonomic nervous system that can calm the body, support spontaneous social engagement, and lower threat responses in both the individual and those around them through social signals. In this way, Social behavior is deeply connected to neurobiological processes that facilitate homeostatic functions, promoting health and growth restoration. The Polyvagal Theory emphasizes sociality as the fundamental process in reducing threat responses and promoting mental and physical well-being (Porges, 2021). But how did we become wired for safety and social connection in this way? To better understand Polyvagal Theory, let’s look at its key concepts!

What are the Key Concepts of Polyvagal Theory?

There are three defining principles of the Polyvagal Theory as follows: the hierarchy of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), neuroception, and co-regulation (Schore, 2024).

Hierarchy of the ANS

Throughout evolution, the mammalian ANS has developed a primary repertoire consisting of three core states. These states shift functionally and adaptively depending on how safe we feel at any given moment. We move between these states through processes that occur outside of our conscious control. Furthermore, these states serve as the neurophysiological foundation underlying emotions. In reality, these states are not always independent; instead, they can interact to form hybrid states that support a continuum of behavioral responses ranging from stillness to mobilized actions in both safe and threatening contexts. At this point, it would be helpful to mention what Porges considers to be the three primary states of the ANS. These states are called Relaxed, Immobilized, and Mobilized:

  1. Relaxed (Parasympathetic Nervous System Ventral Vagal Pathway): This state is activated when you feel safe and engaged. For example, when you learned that you had passed a challenging exam, you worked hard and went to celebrate that with your friends. Here is how the ventral vagal pathway is characterized physiologically and emotionally:
  • Characterized by: Normal heart rate and muscle tone
  • Associated emotions: Relaxed, engaged, curious, creative, and hopeful
  1. Immobilized (Parasympathetic Nervous System Dorsal Vagal Pathway): This state is activated when the nervous system detects a threat and responds by shutting down to conserve energy. For example, after you learned that you have failed the exam, you might feel frozen, emotionally numb, or disconnected from your surroundings. Here is how the dorsal vagal pathway is characterized physiologically and emotionally:
  • Characterized by: Low heart rate, low muscle tone, and low energy
  • Associated emotions when feeling safe: Blissful, dreamy, tranquil, meditative
  • Associated emotions when feeling unsafe: Depressed, unhappy, lonely, and hopeless
  1. Mobilized (Sympathetic Nervous System): This state is activated when the body prepares to take action. For example, when you’re running late for the exam, you might feel alert. Here is how the sympathetic nervous system is characterized physiologically and emotionally:
  • Characterized by: Increased heart rate, blood pressure, and hormone flow; increased muscle tone
  • Associated emotions when feeling safe: Energetic, active, playful, motivated
  • Associated emotions when feeling unsafe: ‘’Fight or flight’’, stressed, anxious, and fearful

Co-regulation

Individuals naturally and unconsciously send signals of safety and danger to one another. These signals either support or inhibit the reduction of psychological and physical distance, which are defined as social engagement behaviors. The Polyvagal Theory provides insight into how this process occurs through the ‘’social engagement system.’’ At a physiological level, the neural pathways emerging from the ventral vagal pathway in the brainstem not only regulate responses to threat but also activate facial expressions, head movements, and vocal prosody that signal openness to friendly social communication with others.

Neuroception

The regulation of the ANS involves an embedded surveillance system that includes higher brain structures. These brain structures constantly and dynamically interpret cues for threats through sensors distributed throughout the body. The nervous system continuously processes sensory information to detect safety or danger, without involving the brain’s higher brain structures, such as the frontal and prefrontal cortex. Neuroception scans other people, our own bodies, and the environment for cues of safety and danger. As the nervous system receives cues, it automatically shifts between ANS states to support survival. Moreover, neuroception and autonomic state are closely intertwined. While neuroception has the power to trigger changes in autonomic states, it is influenced by an individual’s current autonomic state and their level of resilience, which is the ability to move flexibly between states. More resilient individuals will have neuroception tuned to detect safety cues, while less resilient individuals will have neuroception geared toward detecting threats.

When ANS is activated by the sympathetic nervous system (mobilized) or the parasympathetic nervous system dorsal vagal pathway (immobilized), neuroception tends to detect threat. When the system is in a relaxed state dominated by the ventral vagal pathways and the social engagement system, neuroception is less likely to trigger defensive states and behaviors reflexively.

When neuroception is inaccurate, it may send a danger signal in moments when an individual is actually safe, or a safety signal in moments when the individual is truly at risk. Inaccurate neuroception can be influenced by many factors. For example, individuals with a significant history of trauma may habitually experience hypervigilance as they anticipate threats. Additionally, to stay prepared for danger, their autonomic nervous system may default to a chronic state of sympathetic arousal, commonly referred to as the fight-or-flight mode. In some cases, individuals engage in risky behaviors in a habitual pattern, maintaining them in a state of chronic sympathetic arousal that prepares them for fight-or-flight responses. To sum up, when our neuroception sends inaccurate signals and we remain in a state of stress for an extended period, it becomes increasingly challenging to stay within our Window of Tolerance. This brings us to another concept that helps us understand how our body reacts to stress: the Window of Tolerance.

Polyvagal Theory and Window of Tolerance

The Tolerance Window is a model developed by psychiatrist Dr. Dan Siegel. The model refers to three different states of emotional arousal as follows: 

  • Hyper-Arousal – Extreme Arousal: The level where our sympathetic nervous system is active, our fight-flight mode is active, emotions are so high that we find it difficult to cope, and thoughts that exhaust our minds. At this level, we may experience stress, reactivity, anxiety, worry, fear, irritation, anger, nervousness, panic, alertness, or feelings of being overwhelmed. We may also have difficulty concentrating and have tendencies towards self-destructive behavior.
  • Ideal Arousal: The level at which we can manage emotions, get things done, maintain relationships with ease, feel safe, in short, cope with what is happening.
  • Hypo-Arousal – Low Arousal: The level where we cannot feel significant emotional stimuli and triggers, where we cannot find motivation for action, and where our sympathetic nervous system (freezing state) is active. At this level, we may feel lethargic, disconnected, dull, exhausted, depressed, empty, closed off, distant, and ashamed. We may often want to withdraw, to get away (PositivePsychology.com, 2024).

The Window of Tolerance highlights how much stress can be tolerated by the nervous system before reactions become dysregulated. When we combine the Window of Tolerance and Polyvagal Theory, we can say that dorsal or sympathetic activation can push us out of our tolerance window; the ventral vagal system helps restore a relaxed state and social engagement (PositivePsychology.com, 2023). This theoretical framework is not only helpful in understanding behavior, but it can also be used in therapy, especially when working with trauma. Let’s further explore how these science-based concepts are used in clinical practice.

How Does Polyvagal Therapy Work?

Polyvagal Therapy is a therapeutic method that combines neuroscience and psychology. Polyvagal Therapy focuses on the vagus nerve and its role in regulating our responses to stress. Polyvagal therapy utilizes targeted interventions to regulate and optimize various pathways in the nervous system, thereby supporting individuals in developing resilience, a sense of safety, and a deeper connection. Thanks to the multifaceted approach offered by Polyvagal Theory, Polyvagal Therapy goes beyond specific diagnoses. It provides valuable treatment modalities in the context of a variety of stress-related difficulties, interpersonal issues, trauma, and problems with emotional regulation. The Polyvagal Theory’s guidance in various situations emphasizes its effectiveness in building resilience and promoting mental well-being across a range of conditions (Lieberman and Fuller, 2023).

Through Polyvagal-Informed therapy, clients learn how to become aware of their body responses. They monitor their feelings throughout their daily routine and report any activation to their therapist. Additionally, clients learn breathing techniques to help them in times of stress and strengthen their coping mechanisms. Therapists engage clients with positive feelings of connection to guide them out of their ‘’frozen’’ state.

The conditions that Polyvagal-Informed therapy can treat are as follows:

  • Panic disorders
  • Poor self-esteem
  • Chronic pain
  • Digestive problems
  • Interpersonal relationship issues
  • Depression
  • Emotion dysregulation
  • Sleep disorders
  • Attention or focus problems

Takeaways:

  • The Polyvagal theory is based on the idea that when individuals feel safe, their nervous systems facilitate the homeostatic functions necessary for maintaining health, promoting growth, and facilitating restoration. 
  • According to Polyvagal Theory, feelings of safety arise from the process that helps individuals survive by fostering trusting social interactions.
  • Polyvagal Theory is built on three key principles: the hierarchy of the autonomic nervous system, which explains how our body moves through Relaxed, Immobilized, and Mobilized states; neuroception, the nervous system’s ability to detect safety or danger automatically; and co-regulation, the process of calming and connecting with others through safe, supportive social interaction.
  • Another concept is Window of Tolerance, which defines three different states of emotional arousal as hyperarousal, ideal arousal, and hypoarousal. 
  • When we combine the Window of Tolerance and Polyvagal Theory, dorsal or sympathetic activation can push us out of our tolerance window. The ventral vagal system helps restore a relaxed state and facilitates social engagement. 
  • Through Polyvagal-Informed therapy, clients learn how to become aware of their body responses. They monitor their feelings throughout their daily routine and report any activation to their therapist.

References

  1. Porges, S. W. (2009, April). The polyvagal theory: New insights into adaptive reactions of the autonomic nervous system. Cleveland Clinic journal of medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3108032/ 
  2. Porges, S. W. (2022, May 10). Polyvagal theory: A science of safety. Frontiers in integrative neuroscience. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9131189/  
  3. Schore, A. (n.d.-b). What is Polyvagal Theory? | Polyvagal Institute. https://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/whatispolyvagaltheory
  4. Lieberman, A. & Fuller K. (2023, November 10). What Is Polyvagal Therapy & How Does It Work? Choosing Therapy. https://www.choosingtherapy.com/polyvagal-therapy/ 
  5. PositivePsychology.com. (2024). Window of tolerance: Understanding the nervous system and emotional regulation. Retrieved April 28, 2025, from https://positivepsychology.com/window-of-tolerance/
  6. PositivePsychology.com. (2023). Polyvagal theory: A comprehensive guide. Retrieved April 28, 2025, from https://positivepsychology.com/polyvagal-theory/

While our physical offices are located in South Loop and Lakeview neighborhoods in Chicago, Illinois for in-person sessions, we also welcome and serve clients for online therapy from anywhere in Illinois and Washington, D.C. Clients from the Chicagoland area may choose in-office or online therapy and usually commute from surrounding areas such as River North, West Loop, Gold Coast, Old Town, Lincoln Park, Lake View, Rogers Park, Logan Square, Pilsen, Bridgeport, Little Village, Bronzeville, South Shore, Hyde Park, Back of the Yards, Wicker Park, Bucktown and many more.  

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This page is also part of the Roamers Therapy Glossary; a collection of mental-health related definitions that are written by our therapists.

While our offices are currently located at the South Loop neighborhood of Downtown Chicago, Illinois, we also welcome and serve clients for online therapy from anywhere in Illinois and Washington, D.C. Clients from the Chicagoland area may choose in-office or online therapy and usually commute from surrounding areas such as River North, West Loop, Gold Coast, Old Town, Lincoln Park, Lake View, Rogers Park, Logan Square, Pilsen, Bridgeport, Little Village, Bronzeville, South Shore, Hyde Park, Back of the Yards, Wicker Park, Bucktown and many more. You can visit our contact page to access detailed information on our office location.