The Polyvagal Theory discovered by Dr. Stephen Porges is a working model of the autonomic nervous system which connects safety and social connection with health, well being, and recovery.
The Vagus Nerve & Chronic Illness — Trauma Geek
First, Polyvagal Theory is not just a theory. PVT is a working model of the Autonomic Nervous System. It’s not the only model that exists, but it is the most well known. There are 4 other current working models of the nervous system: the Neurovisceral Integration model, the Biological Behavioral model, the Resonance Frequency model, and the Psychophysiological Coherence model. In my opinion, these models are complementary rather than competing explanations. These models of the nervous system are used as maps to understand the terrain of the human nervous system.
Let’s look at the actual core concepts of PVT: HierarchyThe belief in the existence and relevance of social hierarchies must be suspended.The Beauty of Collaboration at Human Scale: Timeless patterns of human limitations The extent to which a community… More, NeuroceptionNeuroception = instantaneous, subconscious processing of safety and riskNeuroception and the 3 Part Brain | by Trauma Geek | Age of Awareness | Medium Safety cues move us up the… More, and Co-regulation
Co-regulation is when we complete the stress cycle with the support of a safe enough person.Infants & small children do not have the biological capacity to complete the stress cycle… More.
Hierarchy refers to the order in which our bodies activate the 3 neural circuits of the Autonomic Nervous System (the ventral vagus complex, the sympathetic adrenal system, and the dorsal vagus nerve complex). Neuroception is the body’s ability to sense danger or safety in our environment and cue the activation of the 3 neural circuits. Co-regulation is the ultimate safety signal wherein resonance with another nervous system allows us to engage the ventral vagus nerve complex.
Evolution of a Theory: Polyvagal is Not Dead — Trauma Geek
Co-regulation is when we complete the stress cycle with the support of a safe enough person.
Infants & small children do not have the biological capacity to complete the stress cycle aloneAloneness is a characteristic that many creatives embrace and yearn for. Being alone is anything but lonely. Reading, writing, and creating art all demand a personal space where one can… More. That is built over time through a multitude of coregulation experiences.
A safe enough person is a person in safe & social mode. They have deep belly breathing, expressive face, soft gaze, calm heart rate, prosodic voice, and the ability to enjoy safe touch or closeness.
The Neuroscience of Community. A set of graphics by Janae Elisabeth… | by Trauma Geek | Age of Awareness | Medium
Developing a standardised measure of psychological safety.
When working with humans, it is crucial that we shift the lens in which we view behavior from the traditional four functions of behavior to survival brain responses that occur due to feeling unsafe. Our most important goal as educators should be to promote safety within the classroom and school setting so students are not feeling threatened and going into flight, fight, freeze mode.
When we view behavior through a traditional lens, we punish dysregulation.
Rethinking The 3 D’s…

Part of our neuroception is genetic. Neurodivergent
Neurodivergent, sometimes abbreviated as ND, means having a mind that functions in ways which diverge significantly from the dominant societal standards of “normal.”NEURODIVERSITY: SOME BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS Neurodivergent is quite… More people have heightened neuroception from birth or before birth.
Danger cues that are very painful to a neurodivergent person may be neutral or pleasant to someone else.
How to Use the Polyvagal Ladder. A set of graphics
Neurodivergent people are hypersensitive to mindsetThe marketing of mindsets was everywhere this year: “How to Develop Mindsets for Compassion and Caring in Students.” “Building A Tinkering Mindset In Young Students Through Making.” “6 Must-Haves for… More and environment due to a greater number of neuronal connections. They have both a higher risk for trauma and a large capacity for sensing safety.
Neuroception and the 3 Part Brain
Hyper-plasticity predisposes us to have strong associative reactions to trauma. Our threat-response learning system is turned to high alert. The flip side of this hyper-plasticity is that we also adapt quickly to environments that are truly safe for our nervous system.
The stereotypes of meltdowns
Discovering a Trauma-Informed Positive Autistic IdentityMeltdowns are alarm systems to protect our brains.Without meltdowns, we autistics would have nothing to protect our neurology from the very real damage that it can accumulate.I don’t melt down… More and self-harm in autism come from the fact that we frequently have stress responses to things that others do not perceive as distressing. Because our unique safety needs are not widely understood, growing up with extensive trauma has become our default.
This makes seemingly benign noises a threat to my well-being and quite possibly real physical danger to my physiology. Benign noises become painful, and if left unchecked, enough to trigger a system reaction reserved for severe dangers. This is what days can become like on a regular basis for myself and many on the spectrum.
“Let me stick a hot poker in your hand, ok? Now I want you to remain calm.”
That is the real rub of the experience of sensory meltdowns.
Autistic Traits and Experiences in “Love and Mercy” The Brian Wilson Story – The Peripheral Minds of Autism
Whenever there is fear, you will get wrong figures.
W. Edwards Deming
We must preserve the powerThe 20th Century political scientist Karl Deutsch said, “Power is the ability not to have to learn.”I quote this statement often, because I think it’s one of the most important… More of intrinsic motivationIntrinsic motivation: where somebody wants to do something for themselves, for the sake of doing it and doing it well.Craft, Flow and Cognitive Styles Self-determination Theory distinguishes between two different… More, dignity, cooperation, curiosity, joy in learning, that people are born with.
For a skeptical assessment of Polyvagal Theory:
- The Brilliant Marketing of Bessel van der Kolk and Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory
- Alarming Things Trauma-Focused Care and Polyvagal Theory Believers Do For Health Problems
Further readingThere are three types of reading: eye reading, ear reading, and finger reading.The Dyslexia Empowerment Plan: A Blueprint for Renewing Your Child’s Confidence and Love of Learning Most schools and… More,
- Polyvagal Neurodiversity Blog Project — Trauma Geek
- How to Use the Polyvagal Ladder. A set of graphics by Janae Elisabeth… | by Trauma Geek | Age of Awareness
- How to Use The Polyvagal Ladder PDF (Instant Download) — Trauma Geek
- The Neuroscience of Community. A set of graphics by Janae Elisabeth… | by Trauma Geek | Age of Awareness | Medium
- The Neuroscience of Community – Educational Graphics (PDF) — Trauma Geek
- Neuroception & the 3 Part Brain [graphics] — Trauma Geek
- The Vagus Nerve & Chronic Illness [graphics] — Trauma Geek