Playing nice comes naturally when our neuroception detects safety and promotes physiological states that support social behavior. However, pro-social behavior will not occur when our neuroception misreads the environmental cues and triggers physiological states that support defensive strategies. After all, playing nice is not appropriate or adaptive behavior in dangerous or life-threatening situations. In these situations, humans - like other mammals - react with more primitive neurobiological defense systems. To create relationships, humans must subdue these defensive reactions to engage, attach, and form lasting social bonds. Humans have adaptive neurobehavioral systems for both pro-social and defensive behaviors.

~ Stephen W. Porges

Stephen W. Porges Complex Ptsd Dangerous People Defensive Distrust Fear Interpersonal Relationships Neurophysiology Polyvagal Theory Social Triggers Trust Unsafe People

By processing information from the environment through the senses, the nervous system continually evaluates risk. I have coined the term neuroception to describe how neural circuitsdistinguish whether situations or people are safe, dangerous, or life-threatening. Because of our heritage as a species, neuroception takes place in primitive parts of the brain, without our conscious awareness.

~ Stephen W. Porges

Stephen W. Porges Fear Nervous System Neurophysiology Polyvagal Theory Psychology Ptsd Trigger Unsafe People