Neuroception (Porges)
Porges's term for the nervous system's automatic detection of safety or danger from voice, face and setting, before conscious awareness; the surrounding polyvagal theory is now heavily contested.
An everyday example
Relaxing into a pitch because the presenter has a warm, slow voice and open posture — and only later noticing the numbers do not add up.
What it can cost you
Letting a felt sense of safety, produced by tone and manner, substitute for verifying the substance.
Warning signs
- I relaxed because of how they sounded, not what they said.
- I would feel rude checking the numbers with someone this warm.
One thing to do
When you notice you feel safe with someone, treat that as the moment to check one hard fact, because that is exactly when you will not want to.
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