Polyvagal Assessment

Question 1 of 120

A friend smiles at you and makes warm eye contact across the room

Safety Danger Life-Threat

Question 2 of 120

Someone is walking quickly behind you on a dark street

Safety Danger Life-Threat

Question 3 of 120

A dog is barking aggressively and lunging toward you

Safety Danger Life-Threat

Question 4 of 120

You're in a car accident and can't move

Safety Danger Life-Threat

Question 5 of 120

A baby coos and reaches for you with soft eyes

Safety Danger Life-Threat

Question 6 of 120

Your boss's voice is sharp and their face is tense during a meeting

Safety Danger Life-Threat

Question 7 of 120

You're lying in a warm bath with soft music playing

Safety Danger Life-Threat

Question 8 of 120

Someone is yelling loudly with aggressive body language

Safety Danger Life-Threat

Question 9 of 120

You're home alone and hear breaking glass downstairs

Safety Danger Life-Threat

Question 10 of 120

A loved one holds you gently while you cry

Safety Danger Life-Threat

Question 11 of 120

You're being physically restrained against your will

Safety Danger Life-Threat

Question 12 of 120

Your pet dog greets you with tail wagging and relaxed body

Safety Danger Life-Threat

Question 13 of 120

Who developed Polyvagal Theory?

Sigmund Freud Stephen Porges Carl Jung B.F. Skinner

Question 14 of 120

What does 'polyvagal' mean?

Many vagus Multiple poly Poly nerve Vagal complex

Question 15 of 120

What system does Polyvagal Theory primarily focus on?

Digestive system Autonomic nervous system Muscular system Endocrine system

Question 16 of 120

How many distinct states does Polyvagal Theory describe?

Two Three Four Five

Question 17 of 120

What is the primary focus of Polyvagal Theory?

Cognitive processes Safety and connection Memory formation Motor control

Question 18 of 120

The autonomic nervous system operates:

Consciously Unconsciously Only during sleep Only during stress

Question 19 of 120

The parasympathetic branch is often called:

Fight or flight Rest and digest Freeze and fawn Act and react

Question 20 of 120

The sympathetic branch prepares the body for:

Sleep Action and defense Digestion Growth

Question 21 of 120

What percentage of vagal fibers are afferent (body to brain)?

20% 50% 80% 100%

Question 22 of 120

The ANS regulates:

Only heart rate Only breathing Multiple organ systems Only digestion

Question 23 of 120

Balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic is called:

Homeostasis Autonomic balance Vagal tone Neural regulation

Question 24 of 120

The ventral vagal state is associated with:

Fear Safety and connection Shutdown Anger

Question 25 of 120

The dorsal vagal state can lead to:

Hyperactivity Shutdown and collapse Excitement Social engagement

Question 26 of 120

The sympathetic state mobilizes us for:

Rest Fight or flight Social engagement Sleep

Question 27 of 120

The polyvagal ladder metaphor describes:

Physical climbing Hierarchy of autonomic states Brain development Emotional intelligence

Question 28 of 120

Mixed states involve:

Only one system Combinations of autonomic states No autonomic activation Complete shutdown

Question 29 of 120

Our autonomic state influences:

Only physical health Only emotions Thoughts, feelings, and behaviors Only behavior

Question 30 of 120

Neuroception is:

Conscious threat detection Unconscious safety/danger detection A type of meditation A cognitive process

Question 31 of 120

Neuroception scans for cues of:

Only danger Only safety Safety and danger Only physical threats

Question 32 of 120

Faulty neuroception means:

Perfect threat detection Misreading safety and danger cues Enhanced perception Conscious awareness

Question 33 of 120

Neuroception happens:

Only when we choose Below conscious awareness Only during sleep Only in childhood

Question 34 of 120

Neuroception responds to cues from:

Only the environment Only other people Environment, others, and inside the body Only inside the body

Question 35 of 120

The vagus nerve is the:

Shortest cranial nerve Longest cranial nerve Only cranial nerve Smallest cranial nerve

Question 36 of 120

The vagus nerve has how many main branches?

One Two Three Four

Question 37 of 120

The vagal brake helps us:

Stop breathing Regulate arousal smoothly Increase heart rate Shut down completely

Question 38 of 120

Slow deep breathing activates:

Sympathetic response Ventral vagal system Dorsal vagal shutdown Fight response

Question 39 of 120

Vagal tone refers to:

Musical ability Strength of vagal influence on the heart Voice quality Muscle tension

Question 40 of 120

The ventral vagus connects to:

Only the heart Only the gut Face, voice, heart, and lungs Only the brain

Question 41 of 120

Story follows state means:

We choose our stories Our narrative is shaped by our autonomic state Stories cause states States don't affect thinking

Question 42 of 120

In sympathetic activation, we might interpret neutral events as:

Positive Threatening Irrelevant Amusing

Question 43 of 120

The same event can be interpreted differently depending on:

Intelligence Autonomic state Age Gender

Question 44 of 120

Changing our state can:

Not affect our thoughts Change our perspective Only affect our body Make us forget

Question 45 of 120

In dorsal vagal state, our narrative tends toward:

Optimism Hopelessness and disconnection Excitement Anger

Question 46 of 120

The top of the polyvagal ladder represents:

Freeze Fight/flight Safety and social engagement Shutdown

Question 47 of 120

Moving down the ladder represents:

Improvement Increasing threat response Relaxation Social engagement

Question 48 of 120

The evolutionary order from oldest to newest is:

Ventral, sympathetic, dorsal Dorsal, sympathetic, ventral Sympathetic, dorsal, ventral Ventral, dorsal, sympathetic

Question 49 of 120

We can move between states:

Only downward Only upward In both directions Not at all

Question 50 of 120

The goal of regulation is to:

Stay in one state Return to ventral vagal safety Eliminate all stress Avoid all triggers

Question 51 of 120

Each state on the ladder serves a:

Destructive purpose Protective purpose No purpose Social purpose only

Question 52 of 120

The social engagement system involves:

Only speech Face, voice, and listening Only eye contact Only touch

Question 53 of 120

Components of social engagement include:

Fighting skills Facial expression, vocalization, listening Running ability Logical thinking

Question 54 of 120

Social engagement requires a foundation of:

Intelligence Safety Dominance Independence

Question 55 of 120

In polyvagal terms, safety is:

The absence of danger An active neural process A cognitive decision A personality trait

Question 56 of 120

Cues of safety include:

Loud noises Prosodic voice and warm facial expressions Sudden movements Silence

Question 57 of 120

Fight or flight is mediated by the:

Ventral vagal system Sympathetic nervous system Dorsal vagal system Central nervous system

Question 58 of 120

Adaptive fight/flight helps us:

Relax Respond to real threats Shut down Socialize

Question 59 of 120

Chronic sympathetic activation can lead to:

Better health Anxiety and health problems Improved sleep Enhanced social skills

Question 60 of 120

Physical signs of sympathetic activation include:

Slow heart rate Increased heart rate and rapid breathing Drowsiness Muscle relaxation

Question 61 of 120

After a threat passes, the body needs to:

Stay activated Discharge the mobilized energy Ignore the experience Immediately sleep

Question 62 of 120

Healthy fight/flight differs from chronic activation in:

Intensity Duration and ability to return to safety Type Nothing

Question 63 of 120

Shutdown is mediated by the:

Sympathetic system Dorsal vagal system Ventral vagal system Somatic system

Question 64 of 120

Shutdown occurs when:

We feel safe Fight/flight fails to resolve the threat We are relaxed We are socializing

Question 65 of 120

Signs of shutdown include:

Hyperactivity Numbness, dissociation, and collapse Excitement Aggression

Question 66 of 120

Emerging from shutdown requires:

More threat Gentle cues of safety Intense stimulation Medication only

Question 67 of 120

Shutdown serves an evolutionary purpose of:

Enhancing social bonds Conservation and protection when other defenses fail Improving cognition Building strength

Question 68 of 120

Play involves a combination of:

Shutdown and threat Mobilization and safety Only safety Only mobilization

Question 69 of 120

Play requires a foundation of:

Competition Safety Dominance Fear

Question 70 of 120

The ability to play indicates:

Immaturity Nervous system flexibility Weakness Avoidance

Question 71 of 120

Play helps develop:

Only physical strength Social skills and resilience Only cognitive abilities Nothing useful

Question 72 of 120

Mobilization without safety leads to:

Play Fight or flight, not play Better play More fun

Question 73 of 120

Stillness with safety involves:

Only sympathetic activation Ventral vagal and dorsal vagal together Only dorsal vagal Only ventral vagal

Question 74 of 120

The difference between shutdown and safe stillness is:

There is no difference The presence of safety and connection The time of day Physical position

Question 75 of 120

Examples of safe immobilization include:

Being trapped Meditation, cuddling, massage Freezing in fear Dissociation

Question 76 of 120

Intimacy requires:

Only physical closeness Safety and trust with immobilization Dominance Independence

Question 77 of 120

Safe immobilization can be healing because:

It is boring It rewires the shutdown response with safety It causes numbness It is escapism

Question 78 of 120

Freeze involves:

Only dorsal vagal Both sympathetic and dorsal vagal activation Only sympathetic Only ventral vagal

Question 79 of 120

Freeze is characterized by:

Complete relaxation Immobilization with high internal arousal Peaceful stillness Social engagement

Question 80 of 120

Coming out of freeze may involve:

Immediate calm A burst of sympathetic energy (shaking, crying) Instant sleep Nothing

Question 81 of 120

Freeze differs from shutdown in that:

They are the same Freeze has sympathetic activation underneath Freeze is always voluntary Shutdown is more intense

Question 82 of 120

Working with freeze states requires:

Forcing movement Gradual, safe titration Ignoring them Intense exercise

Question 83 of 120

Fawn/appease is characterized by:

Aggression People-pleasing to maintain safety Withdrawal Shutdown

Question 84 of 120

Fawn typically develops from:

Healthy attachment Environments where pleasing others was necessary for safety Genetic factors only Adult experiences only

Question 85 of 120

Signs of fawn include:

Setting clear boundaries Difficulty saying no and chronic self-sacrifice Aggression Social isolation

Question 86 of 120

Healing from fawn involves:

More people-pleasing Gradually developing boundaries with safety Cutting off all relationships Ignoring the pattern

Question 87 of 120

Fawn is best understood as:

A personality flaw An adaptive survival strategy A choice A sign of weakness

Question 88 of 120

In polyvagal terms, trauma is:

A cognitive problem A dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system Only a brain issue A personality disorder

Question 89 of 120

Trauma responses are:

Choices Automatic protective responses Signs of weakness Conscious decisions

Question 90 of 120

Healing from trauma involves:

Forgetting the past Expanding the window of tolerance for autonomic states Only talking about it Avoiding all triggers

Question 91 of 120

The polyvagal principle most relevant to trauma healing is:

Fight harder Safety is the treatment Avoid all stress Think positively

Question 92 of 120

Co-regulation is important in trauma healing because:

It is not important It provides the safety needed to explore difficult states It replaces therapy It eliminates symptoms

Question 93 of 120

Trauma-informed care should prioritize:

Exposure to triggers Creating safety and choice Strict schedules Medication only

Question 94 of 120

Behavioral adaptations are:

Random behaviors Learned responses shaped by autonomic states Genetic traits Conscious strategies

Question 95 of 120

Understanding that behaviors are state-dependent helps us:

Judge others more Respond with compassion Ignore behavior Punish more effectively

Question 96 of 120

Recognizing adaptations as protective helps us:

Accept them without change Understand their origin and work with them Eliminate them immediately Feel worse

Question 97 of 120

When context changes, adaptations may:

Always be helpful Become outdated or maladaptive Never change Become stronger

Question 98 of 120

Changing behavioral patterns requires:

Willpower alone Safety and new autonomic experiences Punishment Ignoring them

Question 99 of 120

Co-regulation is:

Self-regulation Mutual regulation between nervous systems Only for children A conscious choice

Question 100 of 120

Co-regulation requires:

Identical emotions One person's ventral vagal state Physical contact only Verbal communication only

Question 101 of 120

Co-regulation happens through:

Only words Tone, facial expression, presence, and rhythm Only touch Only eye contact

Question 102 of 120

Co-regulation begins:

In adulthood In infancy with caregivers In adolescence Only in therapy

Question 103 of 120

Co-regulation is important because:

It is optional It is our biological blueprint for safety It replaces self-care It eliminates stress

Question 104 of 120

Self-regulation is:

The same as suppression The ability to manage one's own autonomic state Ignoring emotions Controlling others

Question 105 of 120

Self-regulation requires:

Isolation A foundation of co-regulation experiences Perfection Intelligence

Question 106 of 120

Effective self-regulation strategies should:

Be the same for everyone Match the autonomic state Always be calming Always be activating

Question 107 of 120

Building self-regulation capacity involves:

Avoiding all stress Gradually expanding the window of tolerance Pushing through distress Suppressing emotions

Question 108 of 120

The goal of self-regulation is:

Eliminating all negative emotions Flexibility in moving between states Staying calm always Never feeling stressed

Question 109 of 120

Self-regulation develops from:

Books alone Repeated experiences of co-regulation Willpower Avoiding relationships

Question 110 of 120

The three organizing principles of polyvagal theory are:

Id, ego, superego Hierarchy, neuroception, co-regulation Fight, flight, freeze Mind, body, spirit

Question 111 of 120

Polyvagal theory emphasizes:

Cognitive control The role of the autonomic nervous system in behavior Only emotions Only physical health

Question 112 of 120

The newest evolutionary system is:

Dorsal vagal Sympathetic Ventral vagal All evolved simultaneously

Question 113 of 120

Polyvagal-informed interventions focus on:

Challenging thoughts Building safety and connection Exposure therapy only Medication

Question 114 of 120

Understanding polyvagal theory helps us:

Judge others Understand our own and others' responses with compassion Control others Eliminate all stress

Question 115 of 120

The most important takeaway from polyvagal theory is:

Avoiding stress Safety is the foundation for healing and growth Controlling emotions Independence

Question 116 of 120

Applying polyvagal theory in daily life involves:

Ignoring your body Noticing and responding to autonomic states Suppressing emotions Avoiding all triggers

Question 117 of 120

The foundation for all regulation is:

Intelligence Safety and connection Willpower Independence

Question 118 of 120

Building polyvagal awareness is a skill that:

You either have or don't Develops with practice Cannot be learned Only therapists need

Question 119 of 120

Healing is:

Linear A non-linear journey Always quick Only for traumatized people

Question 120 of 120

The ultimate goal of polyvagal-informed living is:

Never feeling stressed Greater flexibility, connection, and resilience Emotional numbness Perfect control

Empathos

Polyvagal Assessment

Thank you