What is the Polyvagal Theory?
The Polyvagal theory is a system of understanding how the human body responds to stress and other stimuli. It explains why some people cope better with stress than others, and why some people struggle to cope with stress at all. The theory has been particularly influential in fields such as psychology, sociology, and performance studies, due to its implications on interpersonal communication and the way we process information about our surroundings. In the Polyvagal theory, we are each assigned a level of “vagal tone”. Vagal tone is a measurement of how the nervous system responds to stimuli, and is determined by several factors, including genetics, early childhood development, and current circumstances.
How Does the Polyvagal Theory Work?
The theory was created by renowned scientist Dr. Stephen Porges in the 1990s, and uses the vagus nerve as its central source of data. The vagus nerve is the tenth cranial nerve, and is responsible for regulating many organs and areas of the body. The vagus nerve, which is also known as the “switching station” or “pathway between the brain and the body”, is highly sensitive to the flow of information between our central nervous system and the rest of our organs and bodily functions. The Polyvagal theory believes we each have three possible levels of vagal tone. These three levels match up with three distinct and identifiable states of being.
What is the Porges’ Behavioural State Theory?
The Porges’ Behavioural State Theory suggests that our behavioural states, and therefore our vagal tone, can be altered and shifted depending on our circumstances. The theory suggests that we start out in a state of “rest and recovery”. In this state, we are most likely to be in a relaxed and peaceful state. If we encounter a situation that we perceive as potentially stressful, we may move into the “defence” behavioural state. In the defence state, we are much more likely to feel angry or aggressive, and are much less likely to be in a calm state. If we encounter a situation that is extremely stressful, or if we are exposed to stimuli that is particularly difficult to process or deal with, we may move into the “survival” state. In the survival state, our bodies go into a “fight-or-flight” mode that is very reminiscent of our earlier, more primitive selves.
The Three Behaviours: Defense, Safety and Recovery
If we think about the different behavioural states, we can see how each of them will impact our bodies. The defense state will activate the sympathetic nervous system, which will result in increased blood pressure, increased blood sugar levels, and increased heart rate. The safety state will activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which will result in decreased blood pressure, decreased blood sugar levels, and decreased heart rate. The recovery state will fall somewhere in between these two states. It will activate the sympathetic nervous system, but to a lesser extent than the defense state. It will also activate the parasympathetic nervous system to a lesser extent than the safety state.
Vagus Nerve and Respiration Responses
The vagus nerve is most sensitive to the state of our respiration. If we are troubled or stressed, our respiration pattern may change, which will result in a change in our vagal tone. When we are in a state of high stress, our respiration is usually rapid and shallow. This can be noticed as a bit of a “panicky” feeling, where we feel like we can’t quite get enough air. When we are in a state of low stress, our respiration is usually slow and deep. This is a much more relaxed feeling, and feels far more satisfying than the high stress state. If we are in the “defence” behavioural state, our respiration is rapid and shallow. If we are in the “safety” state, our respiration is slow and deep. If we are in the “recovery” state, our respiration is somewhere in between.
Summary
The Polyvagal theory is a system of understanding how the human body responds to stress and other stimuli. It explains why some people cope better with stress than others, and why some people struggle to cope with stress at all. The theory has been particularly influential in fields such as psychology, sociology, and performance studies, due to its implications on interpersonal communication and the way we process information about our surroundings. The theory believes we each have three possible levels of vagal tone. These three levels match up with three distinct and identifiable states of being. If we think about the different behavioural states, we can see how each of them will impact our bodies. The defense state will activate the sympathetic nervous system, which will result in increased blood pressure, increased blood sugar levels, and increased heart rate. The safety state will activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which will result in decreased blood pressure, decreased blood sugar levels, and decreased heart rate. The recovery state will fall somewhere in between these two states, activating the sympathetic nervous system to a lesser extent than the defense state, and activating the parasympathetic nervous system to a lesser extent than the safety state.
