Social Learning and Polyvagal Theory: How They Work Together

Key Takeaways

• Social Learning Theory and Polyvagal Theory together explain how rational thought and emotional instincts shape human behavior.
• Social Learning Theory focuses on cognitive processes such as thinking and decision-making, while Polyvagal Theory highlights emotional and physiological regulation.
• Neuroception evaluates safety unconsciously, while Expectancy reflects conscious predictions based on past experience.
• A well-developed Internal Locus of Control helps balance rational judgment with emotional awareness.
• Applying concepts from Positive PERFORMANCE Psychology supports self-regulation, confidence, and personal growth.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Integrating Two Influential Theories

Understanding human behavior requires more than one perspective. When the rational insights of Social Learning Theory are combined with the physiological awareness of Polyvagal Theory, a fuller picture emerges of how thought and emotion guide self-regulation and growth.

These ideas are explored further in Step 4 of the Mulry Method and in our Polyvagal Theory overview, both key parts of our self-care framework.

Bridging The Gap Between Rationality And Emotion

Julian Rotter’s Social Learning Theory (SLT) focuses on the cognitive, mental, and rational sides of human behavior. It highlights how we are “thinkers” who often perceive ourselves as more rational than we are. Yet Rotter’s framework was developed before modern neuroscience and psychophysiology clarified how emotion and physiology influence decision-making through discoveries in the limbic system, prefrontal cortex, and vagus nerve. Emotions are far more dominant than previously thought, making them essential to any effort toward mind-body integration.

Polyvagal Theory Enters The Scene

In 2011, Stephen W. Porges introduced a groundbreaking framework in his book The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, Self-Regulation. This work reshaped our understanding of emotion and behavior, offering a deeper look at how the mind and nervous system collaborate or conflict. While the theory’s scope is vast, we can focus on a few core ideas that connect SLT with Polyvagal Theory.

Understanding The Nervous Systems

The nervous system coordinates how we think, feel, and act. It includes two main parts that work together to keep the body balanced.

The Central Nervous System (CNS)

The CNS includes the brain and spinal cord. The brain manages learning, movement, and emotion, while the spinal cord carries signals between the brain and body. Together they connect mental activity with physical action.

The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

The ANS controls involuntary functions such as heart rate, digestion, and breathing. It has two parts:

• Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS): Triggers the “fight or flight” response during stress.
• Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS): Restores calm and balance after stress through the “rest and digest” response.

These systems help the body respond to change and maintain stability in daily life.

The Role Of The Vagus Nerve

The Vagus Nerve, the main nerve of the PNS, regulates essential body functions such as digestion, heart rate, and immunity. While it operates involuntarily, it can be consciously influenced through techniques like deep rhythmic breathing. This nerve is a key link between mental and physical processes, often responsible for the “gut-level” responses we experience.

For example, when you feel uneasy or suspicious, your Vagus Nerve is signaling your brain to pay attention to potential threats. These gut-level responses often precede rational thought, reflecting evolutionary mechanisms designed for survival.

Polyvagal Theory And Neuroception

Neuroception refers to the brain’s ability to unconsciously assess whether situations or people are safe or dangerous. This visceral response occurs in the brain’s more primitive regions, often before we are consciously aware. While this system protects us, it can misinterpret situations, leading to maladaptive responses such as fear of attachment, trust issues, or unnecessary anxiety. Accurate neuroception is crucial for healthy emotional regulation and interpersonal relationships.

Social Learning Theory And Expectancy

Just as Polyvagal Theory explains how the body senses safety, Social Learning Theory explains how the mind predicts success. Together they show how emotion and thought influence each other.

In SLT, expectancy refers to the likelihood of achieving a desired outcome based on past experiences. Both neuroception and expectancy aim to evaluate safety and potential success, but they function differently:

• Neuroception is instinctual and unconscious.
• Expectancy is rational and shaped by prior learning.

These processes can complement or conflict with each other. For example, you might mentally expect someone to be trustworthy (expectancy) but feel uneasy around them (neuroception). In such a situation, it helps to listen to both signals and delay any involvement until you gather more experience, knowledge, and assurance that you are on the right track. If the inner dissonance remains unresolved, it is wiser to hold off, even if you feel inclined to move forward. This kind of conflict between thought and feeling often appears in relationships or decision-making. Balancing rational thought with instinctive feelings can guide better choices.

Integrating Internal Locus Of Control, Neuroception, And Expectancy

Together, neuroception, expectancy, and locus of control form a continuous process that links emotional awareness with rational decision-making. When these systems are integrated, you can sense when something feels right while also reasoning through your choices. This balance supports the development of an Internal Locus of Control, where decisions come from awareness rather than impulse or external pressure.

Individuals with a well-developed Internal Locus of Control trust their skills and experiences, enabling them to navigate ambiguous situations with confidence. In contrast, those with an External Locus of Control rely on luck or external forces, often ignoring critical neuroception and expectancy cues.

For example, an external may act impulsively, placing trust in unsafe situations, while an internal takes deliberate action grounded in both emotional and rational awareness. Developing an Internal Locus of Control builds self-trust, sharpens decision-making, and reduces reliance on chance or outside validation.

We Become What We Do

Awareness of how the mind and body interact, both cooperatively and competitively, enables us to build positive experiences and realistic success. Positive PERFORMANCE Psychology offers self-learning techniques grounded in four essential skills:

• Relaxed Moves
• Power Moves
• Elastic Moves
• Focused Moves

These techniques are introduced in the In The Zone E-Book and expanded through the In The Zone Skills Training video series, which demonstrates how to apply them through focused movement and breath-based techniques.

Where Science Meets Self-Discovery

By combining the rational insights of Social Learning Theory with the emotional depth of Polyvagal Theory, this approach bridges the mind-body connection. Understanding how neuroception, expectancy, and locus of control interact helps you navigate life with greater confidence and balance. Through self-awareness, emotional regulation, and practical self-learning techniques, these ideas provide a clear path toward personal growth and peak performance.

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