Stephen Porges

Stephen Porges
Born
Stephen W. Porges

1945 (age 80–81)
New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States
Alma materDrew University (BA)
Michigan State University (MA, PhD)
Known forPolyvagal theory
Scientific career
FieldsPsychology
InstitutionsIndiana University, University of North Carolina

Stephen W. Porges (born 1945) is an American psychologist. He is the Professor of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[1] Porges is currently Director of the Kinsey Institute Traumatic Stress Research Consortium at Indiana University Bloomington,[2] which studies trauma. He was previously a professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, where he was director of the Brain-Body Center at the College of Medicine, and at the University of Maryland.

He served as president of the Society for Psychophysiological Research (1993-1994)[3] and the Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences (1999-2002)[4] and is a former recipient of a National Institute of Mental Health Research Scientist Development Award.

He is the author of more than 400 peer-review journal articles across several disciplines including anesthesiology, biomedical engineering, critical care medicine, ergonomics, exercise physiology, gerontology, neurology, neuroscience, obstetrics, pediatrics, psychiatry, psychology, psychometrics, space medicine, and substance abuse.[5]

In 1994 he proposed the Polyvagal Theory, a systems-level, pathway-specific framework of autonomic regulation[6][7][8][9]. Polyvagal Theory is a trans-disciplinary synthesis weaving together evolutionary biology, neurophysiology, observable behavior, and clinical insights into a framework for understanding how our nervous system states drive our behavior in the world and with one another. It has had a broad clinical influence, offering linguistic framing and conceptual and descriptive texture to phenomena observed in clinical and therapeutic contexts.

Polyvagal Theory distinguishes two vagal systems with differentiated vagal efferent pathways, functional integration, and regulatory roles. This model updates prior autonomic physiology conceptualizations predicated on the notion of autonomic balance.

The theory has generated controversy, with social neuroscientists[10][11][12][13][14] questioning its measurement assertions, neuro-anatomy and functions of major brainstem nuclei, evolution of the vagus nerve, claims about mammalian social behavior in relation to non mammalian vertebrates, and interpretations of earlier physiological literature.[15] Porges has responded to these claims.[16]

Personal life

He is married to scientist C. Sue Carter,[17] and has two children: Eric Carter Porges and Seth Porges. Porges received a Bachelor of Arts from Drew University in Psychology. Later, Porges received a Master of Arts and PhD in Psychology from Michigan State University.[18][19]

Scholarships & Awards

  • National Institute of Mental Health Research Scientist Development Award (KO2: 7/75-12/80, 12/81-8/85)
  • Fellow, American Psychological Association (Divisions 6 and 7)
  • Charter Member, Emeritus, and Fellow, Association for Psychological Science
  • Edna Reiss – Sophie Greenberg Chair (9th annual), recognizing outstanding professionals in the field of child/adolescent mental health (2013)
  • Lifetime contribution to psychophysiology awarded by the Biofeedback Foundation of Europe (2/2014)
  • B.F. Skinner Lecture to the Association of Behavioral Analysis International (5/2014)
  • Pierre Janet Plenary Address, International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (11/2013)
  • Pioneer Award, United States Association of Body Psychotherapy (11/2018)
  • Lifetime Achievement Award for breakthrough research with the Polyvagal Theory, awarded at the Annual Childhood Trauma and Attachment Conference (2021)
  • Highland Park High School Hall of Honor (2022)
  • Distinguished Scientist Award, Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (2023)
  • Distinguished Pioneer Award, The Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (2024)
  • Mental Health Hall of Fame, 4 th World Congress on Psychology and Psychotherapy (2024)

Professional Service

  • National Institute for Child Health and Human Development: Maternal and Child Health Research Committee (1991-1995); Chair, Maternal and Child Health Research Committee (1994-1995)
  • Society for Psychophysiological Research: President-Elect (1992), President (1993), Past-President (1994), Secretary‑Treasurer (1975-1978); Board of Directors (1975‑1979, 1986-1989)
  • The National Academies U.S. National Committee for the International Union of Psychological Science (2006-2009)
  • Federation of Behavioral, Psychological and Cognitive Sciences (currently the Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences): President (1999-2002); Past President (2003); Executive Committee (1994-1997, (2005-2006)
  • Honorary Ambassador for Action Trauma (2021- )

References

  1. ^ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, accessed March 1, 2022
  2. ^ Indiana University Bloomington, accessed March 1, 2022
  3. ^ Psychophysiological Research, Society for. "Past Officers". Society for Psychophysiological Research. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  4. ^ "FABBS – Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences". FABBS. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  5. ^ "Stephen W. Porges". scholar.google.com. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  6. ^ Porges, S. W. (July 1995). "Orienting in a defensive world: mammalian modifications of our evolutionary heritage. A Polyvagal Theory". Psychophysiology. 32 (4): 301–318. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.1995.tb01213.x. ISSN 0048-5772. PMID 7652107.
  7. ^ Porges, Stephen W. (2007-02-01). "The polyvagal perspective". Biological Psychology. Special Issue of Biological Psychology on Cardiac Vagal Control, Emotion, Psychopathology, and Health. 74 (2): 116–143. doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2006.06.009. ISSN 0301-0511.
  8. ^ Porges, Stephen W. (2023-11-01). "The vagal paradox: A polyvagal solution". Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology. 16 100200. doi:10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100200. ISSN 2666-4976.
  9. ^ Porges, Stephen W. (2025-09-16). "Polyvagal theory: a journey from physiological observation to neural innervation and clinical insight". Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience. 19. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1659083. ISSN 1662-5153. PMC 12479538.
  10. ^ Todorov, Alexander; Fiske, Susan; Prentice, Deborah (2011). Social Neuroscience: Toward Understanding the Underpinnings of the Social Mind. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-972406-2.
  11. ^ Schutt, Russell K.; Seidman, Larry J.; Keshavan, Matcheri S. (2015). Social Neuroscience: Brain, Mind, and Society. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-72897-4. Litfin, Karen T.; Berntson, Gary G. (2006). Social Neuroscience: People Thinking about Thinking People. MIT Press. ISBN 978-0-262-03335-0.
  12. ^ Baron-Cohen, Simon; Tager-Flusberg, Helen; Lombardo, Michael (2013). Understanding Other Minds: Perspectives from Developmental Social Neuroscience. OUP Oxford. ISBN 978-0-19-969297-2.
  13. ^ Cacioppo, Stephanie; Cacioppo, John T. (2020). Introduction to Social Neuroscience. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-16727-5.
  14. ^ Decety, Jean; Cacioppo, John T. (2011). The Oxford Handbook of Social Neuroscience. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-534216-1.
  15. ^ admin (2026-02-09). "WHY THE POLYVAGAL THEORY IS UNTENABLE. An international expert evaluation of the polyvagal theory and commentary upon Porges, S.W. (2025). Polyvagal theory: current status, clinical applications, and future directions. Clin. Neuropsychiatry, 22(3), 169-184 | Clinical Neuropsychiatry". Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  16. ^ admin (2026-02-09). "When a Critique Becomes Untenable: A Scholarly Response to Grossman et al.'s Evaluation of Polyvagal Theory | Clinical Neuropsychiatry". Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  17. ^ "Unlocking the Love Code | Psychology Today".
  18. ^ "About". Stephen Porges PhD. Archived from the original on 2025-02-14. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  19. ^ "Stephen W. Porges, Ph.D." (PDF). usrfiles.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-11-17.
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