28min chapter

192: What to do with the myth of Polyvagal Theory

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CHAPTER

Principles and Role of the Polyvagal Theory

This chapter discusses the principles of the Polyvagal Theory and the role of the vagus nerve in regulating social engagement behaviors. It explores the evolutionary history of heart regulation, neural mechanisms of excitation and inhibition, and the link between RSA and behavior regulation problems in children. The conversation also delves into the assumptions, limitations, and potential implications of the theory in understanding social emotional behavior and health psychology.

00:00

Transcript

Episode notes

Polyvagal Theory is everywhere these days.

Psychologists talk about it; parenting coaches talk about it; if you’re in

the mental health field you’re probably referring to polyvagal theory in some way. So one would assume that there’s lots of evidence for it, right? Well, maybe. Maybe not.

In this episode I dig into the foundational principles of Polyvagal Theory and find that there's a lot less evidence supporting it than you might think, given how many places it's used.

So what's going on? Is it legit? Should we be using a different theory to understand our experience instead?

But all may not be lost! Maybe there are aspects of the theory that we can still use...the episode suggests a path forward on this.

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Jump to Highlights

01:26 Introduction to this episode 04:05 Three defining principles of the Polyvagal Theory 09:01 The challenges in reconciling PVT’s popularity with the lack of scientific evidence supporting its core premises 21:09 Dr. Stephen Porges' 1995 paper on Polyvagal Theory (PVT) is examined, including references to Charles Darwin's support, removal of a premise, and disagreements with Dr. Paul Grossman 24:35 Dr. Stephen Porges' 2007 paper on Polyvagal Theory introduces four principles about heart regulation and the vagus nerve's role in social engagement behaviors 32:12 Dr. Doody challenges the assumptions behind Polyvagal Theory 36:34 Experts challenge Polyvagal Theory (PVT) by refuting its foundational premises, raising the need for alternative models and further evidence examination 42:05 Bloggers and experts offer mixed views on Polyvagal Theory (PVT): some argue it can adapt without changing its core, while others label it a myth 45:31 Jen evaluates the usefulness of Polyvagal Theory (PVT) considering evidence both for and against it 48:01 The existence of alternative theories to Polyvagal Theory (PVT) is a key consideration in evaluating its validity 48:35 Polyvagal Theory (PVT) is still debated, with limited evidence both for and against it, and alternative theories lacking strong support. 55:24 The cultural context and alignment between a therapist's explanation and a client's understanding are essential for therapeutic success 01:06:23 Indigenous perspectives emphasize the importance of understanding dynamic systems in place and time, which aligns with Dr. Porges' attempt to examine a broader system in polyvagal theory 01:11:55 The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), based on polyvagal theory (PVT), lacks substantial scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness 01:15:08 Wrapping up

Other episodes referenced:

018: The Spiritual Child: Possibly exaggerated, conclusions uncertain

104: How to help a child to overcome anxiety

113: No Self, No Problem

131: Implicit Bias (Part 1)

132: How implicit bias affect my child (Part 2)

141: The Body Keeps The Score with Dr. Bessel van der Kolk

175: I’ll be me; can you be you?

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