Our Polyvagal World: How Safety and Trauma Change Us
by Stephen W. Porges
Stephen W. Porges's "Our Polyvagal World" explores the profound impact of perceived safety and threat on human physiology, psychology, and social behavior, framed through the lens of Polyvagal Theory. A central tenet is that an individual's sense of safety is paramount to their physical and mental well-being. The text argues that the environment, including built structures and societal constructs, often paradoxically contributes to feelings of unsafety, even when designed for protection. Porges suggests that this state of perceived threat can be exploited, as it triggers a primal survival response that inhibits critical thinking and learning. The book emphasizes how understanding the intricate connection between our nervous system and our environment can illuminate pathways to fostering resilience and promoting genuine security in a complex world.
2 popular highlights from this book
Key Insights & Memorable Quotes
Below are the most popular and impactful highlights and quotes from Our Polyvagal World: How Safety and Trauma Change Us:
“There’s a brutal irony to the fact that many of the features of our built world that are billed as keeping us safe also make us feel unsafe. If one wanted to take a cynical point of view, one might posit that, at times, this is an intended outcome. And that certain individuals or institutions may want us to feel unsafe for their own selfish ends. But why would anybody actively want to make us feel unsafe? The Polyvagal Theory offers a simple explanation: When we feel unsafe, our bodies shut down our ability to critically think or learn in favor of a need for immediate survival.”
“How safe we feel is crucial to our physical and mental health and happiness.”
