Hey y'all,
Been a while since I posted here, but wanted to share some potentially intriguing insight...
Stephen Porges' Polyvagal Theory is one of the most interesting topics I have explored since...well, since Scientology :unsure:
What makes it soooo interesting, is that it can explain all the core premise and techniques used in Scientology (TR's, Auditing, Touch Assist, Tone Scale, Reactive Mind, trauma right back to birth, and more) in a scientific and evolutionary paradigm, that is well accepted by the scientific community.
Basically, if you scratched away all the negative superficial mind-bending crap in Scientology, I believe, at its core you can find the very soul nourishing Polyvagal Theory.
Stephen Porges developed this theory post LRH. I don't know if there was any interaction with Scientology on his part. It does not seem to be the case.
His theory is much more complex than I can explain, however, here is a basic summary:
The prevailing theory of Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is that it is divided into two parts. The Sympathetic System governing fight-or-flight adrenaline response, and the Parasympathetic System mediated by the Vagal Nerve governing rest-and-digest functions.
Stephen Porges proposes there are three distinct systems that have evolved that dictate how we respond to stimuli (assessment of risk/safety/defence):
- Immobilisation: The most primitive 'reptilian' system described as "death feigning." Involves freezing of movement and behavioural shutdown.
- Mobilisation: Fight-or-flight response characteristic of the adrenaline sympathetic response.
- Social Communication or Social Engagement: The most recently evolved system. Governs facial expression, voice modulation/vocalisation, listening, eye contact. It fosters calm and inhibits sympathetic system.
In defence situations (whether real or perceived) the body makes a quick assessment of risk not generally perceivable by us. It then utilises defence systems in a backwards approach: Social communication/engagement is first utilised. If that fails fight-or-flight response is mobilised, then if that fails the more primitive death feigning is enacted. Stephen describes this as "neuroception," where the body picks up environmental cues, reacts, and potentially imprints danger/trauma situations onto our nervous system.
These trauma imprints, he claims, can go right back to birth trauma, and can manifest as psychological and physiological responses and needs that influences personality, behaviour, and habits.
Stephen suggests one way to release these neurogenic imprints/responses is to engage the social system to create "safety," build relationship to reduce mobilisation system, then connect with the primitive immobilisation system to release core trauma. As more safety is engaged, and more trauma is released, vagal tone is improved which subsequently brings more health, awareness, and increased socialisation.
Does this all sound familiar to you???
If I look at Scientology with Polyvagal Theory "eyes":
- TR's: hacking of social system to create safety (eye contact), but also by-passing the system via lack of facial cues. Also remove the desire to mobilise in the face of trauma cues (flunk!)
- Tone Scale: use of social vocalisation cues. Also LHR's melodic voice!
- Reactive Mind: Neurogenic imprint/response
- Auditing: Utilising all the above for direct contact with immobilisation trauma centre
- Floating needle: release of neurogenic imprints and activation of the vagal nerve
I'm sure there are more correlations that can be made...
It seems clear to me that LRH found an ingenious way to hack our evolutionary nervous system to by-pass our social and mobilisation systems and tap directly into our reptilian trauma centre.
I strongly believe this theory goes a long way to explaining the parts of Scientology that worked: that ungraspable essence that drew us into Scientology, nourished us, and made us accept the mind-numbing crap wrapped around it with a nice bow of OT mumbo-jumbo.
If interested, here is a couple of videos from youtube. Enjoy!
Dennis
^Starts with basics, gets better after 8min mark.
Polyvagal Theory - The REAL science in Scientology
Been a while since I posted here, but wanted to share some potentially intriguing insight...
Stephen Porges' Polyvagal Theory is one of the most interesting topics I have explored since...well, since Scientology :unsure:
What makes it soooo interesting, is that it can explain all the core premise and techniques used in Scientology (TR's, Auditing, Touch Assist, Tone Scale, Reactive Mind, trauma right back to birth, and more) in a scientific and evolutionary paradigm, that is well accepted by the scientific community.
Basically, if you scratched away all the negative superficial mind-bending crap in Scientology, I believe, at its core you can find the very soul nourishing Polyvagal Theory.
Stephen Porges developed this theory post LRH. I don't know if there was any interaction with Scientology on his part. It does not seem to be the case.
His theory is much more complex than I can explain, however, here is a basic summary:
The prevailing theory of Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is that it is divided into two parts. The Sympathetic System governing fight-or-flight adrenaline response, and the Parasympathetic System mediated by the Vagal Nerve governing rest-and-digest functions.
Stephen Porges proposes there are three distinct systems that have evolved that dictate how we respond to stimuli (assessment of risk/safety/defence):
- Immobilisation: The most primitive 'reptilian' system described as "death feigning." Involves freezing of movement and behavioural shutdown.
- Mobilisation: Fight-or-flight response characteristic of the adrenaline sympathetic response.
- Social Communication or Social Engagement: The most recently evolved system. Governs facial expression, voice modulation/vocalisation, listening, eye contact. It fosters calm and inhibits sympathetic system.
In defence situations (whether real or perceived) the body makes a quick assessment of risk not generally perceivable by us. It then utilises defence systems in a backwards approach: Social communication/engagement is first utilised. If that fails fight-or-flight response is mobilised, then if that fails the more primitive death feigning is enacted. Stephen describes this as "neuroception," where the body picks up environmental cues, reacts, and potentially imprints danger/trauma situations onto our nervous system.
These trauma imprints, he claims, can go right back to birth trauma, and can manifest as psychological and physiological responses and needs that influences personality, behaviour, and habits.
Stephen suggests one way to release these neurogenic imprints/responses is to engage the social system to create "safety," build relationship to reduce mobilisation system, then connect with the primitive immobilisation system to release core trauma. As more safety is engaged, and more trauma is released, vagal tone is improved which subsequently brings more health, awareness, and increased socialisation.
Does this all sound familiar to you???
If I look at Scientology with Polyvagal Theory "eyes":
- TR's: hacking of social system to create safety (eye contact), but also by-passing the system via lack of facial cues. Also remove the desire to mobilise in the face of trauma cues (flunk!)
- Tone Scale: use of social vocalisation cues. Also LHR's melodic voice!
- Reactive Mind: Neurogenic imprint/response
- Auditing: Utilising all the above for direct contact with immobilisation trauma centre
- Floating needle: release of neurogenic imprints and activation of the vagal nerve
I'm sure there are more correlations that can be made...
It seems clear to me that LRH found an ingenious way to hack our evolutionary nervous system to by-pass our social and mobilisation systems and tap directly into our reptilian trauma centre.
I strongly believe this theory goes a long way to explaining the parts of Scientology that worked: that ungraspable essence that drew us into Scientology, nourished us, and made us accept the mind-numbing crap wrapped around it with a nice bow of OT mumbo-jumbo.
If interested, here is a couple of videos from youtube. Enjoy!
Dennis
^Starts with basics, gets better after 8min mark.
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