Limbic System Legacy

Question 1

The Freeze Response

Answer 1

• First response to danger or stress - Deer in headlights phenomenon - Makes us harder to see - Allows time to assess and decide what to do - Also freeze from things we hear

Question 2

Freeze Response in modern society

Answer 2

• When being chastised, people often hold very still - Behavior observed when being questioned about behaviors that get them into trouble (freeze in chair) - Holding breath or shallow breathing (during stressful interview) - Interlocking feet behind the legs of the chair and holding position for a long time

Question 3

Freeze response to diminish exposure

Answer 3

• Shoplifters try to hide physical presence by restricting their motions or hunching over as if trying to be invisible - Ex. kid trying to swipe cookie - Turtle effect: raising shoulders and lowering head - Abused children exhibit this in presence of abusive parent or adult: arms go dormant at their sides and they avoid eye contact

Question 4

flight response

Answer 4

• purpose is to block or distance ourselves from the physical presence of undesirable individuals or things

Question 5

modern application of flight response

Answer 5

• Shifting feet towards the door - Turning away from someone / something you don’t like - Blocking behaviors: closing eyes, rubbing the eyes, or placing hands in front of the face - distance yourself from someone you don’t like by leaning away - placing item (purse) in lap, turning feet toward exit

Question 6

The fight response

Answer 6

• Arguing - Civil Lawsuits - Using aggressive body language (eyes, puffing out chest, violating another’s personal space)

Question 7

Importance of pacifying behaviors

Answer 7

• When faced with a negative or threatening experience, the FFF responses are followed by pacifying behaviors - serve to calm us down after we experience something unpleasant - Look for pacifying behaviors to tell you when someone is uncomfortable

Question 8

Types of pacifying behaviors

Answer 8

• Massaging neck - Stroking face - Playing with hair - Rubbing cheek or lips on inside with tongue - Exhaling slowing with cheeks puffed out - Smoking more - Chewing gum faster - Any touching of face, head, neck, shoulder, arm, hand, leg in response to a negative stimulus is pacifying

Question 9

Different pacifying behaviors between men and women

Answer 9

• Men prefer to touch faces - Men are typically more robust, grasping or cupping their necks just beneath the chin or adjusting their tie knot - Women prefer to touch necks, clothing, jewelry, arms and hair - Playing with necklace, covering suprasternal notch

Question 10

Individual pacifiers

Answer 10

• chewing gum - smoking cigs - eating more - licking lips - rubbing chins - stroking faces - playing with objects (pens, pencils, lipstick, or watches) - pulling / playing with hair - scratching forearms - brushing front of shirt or adjusting tie

Question 11

Relevance of Pacifying Behaviors of the Neck

Answer 11

• Neck area full of nerves, including vagus, when massaged reduce blood pressure, lower heart rate, and calm the individual down

Question 12

Pacifying Behaviors of the Face

Answer 12

• Touching or stroking the face is a response to stress
• Rubbing the forehead
• Touching, rubbing, or licking the lips
• Pulling or massaging the earlobe
• Stroking the face or beard
• Playing with the hair
• Puffing out cheeks and slowly exhaling

Question 13

Pacifying Behaviors involving sound

Answer 13

• Whistling when in unfamiliar or dangerous area
• Talking to themselves
• Talking very rapidly
• Combo of tactile and auditory pacification (tapping of a pencil, drumming of fingers)

Question 14

Excessive Yawning

Answer 14

• Sometimes people under stress yawn excessively
• Form of taking a deep breath
• Mouth dry due to stress and yawning puts pressure on salivary glands

Question 15

Answer 15

Covering of the neck dimple pacifies insecurities, emotional discomfort, fear, or concerns in real time. Playing with a necklace often serves the same purpose.

Question 16

Answer 16

Rubbing the forehead is usually a good indicator that a person is struggling with something or is undergoing slight to severe discomfort.

Question 17

Answer 17

Neck touching takes place when there is emotional discomfort, doubt or insecurity.

Question 18

Answer 18

Cheek of face touching is a way to pacify when nervous, irritated or concerned.

Question 19

Answer 19

Exhaling with puffed out cheeks is a great way to release stress and to pacify. Notice how often people do this after a near mishap.

Question 20

Answer 20

Men adjust their ties to deal with insecurities or discomfort. It also covers the suprasternal notch.

Question 21

Answer 21

Men tend to massage or stroke their necks to pacify distress. This area is rich with nerves, including the vagus nerve, which when massaged will slow down the heart rate.

Question 22

Answer 22

Men typically cover their necks more robustly than women as a way to deal with discomfort or insecurity.

Question 23

Answer 23

Even a brief touch of the neck will serve to assuage anxiety or dicomfort. Neck touching or massaging is a powerful and universal stress reliever and pacifier.

Question 24

Answer 24

When stressed or nervous, people will “cleanse” their palms on their laps in order to pacify themselves. Often missed under tables, it is a very accurate indicator of discomfort or anxiety.

Question 25

Answer 25

• Ventilating of the neck area relieves stress and emotional discomfort.
• Often a good indicator the person is unhappy with something he is thinking about or experiencing in the environment.
• Woman do this more subtly by merely ventilating the front of her blouse or by tossing the back of her hair up in the air to ventilate her neck

Question 26

The Self Administered Body Hug

Answer 26

• Crossing arms and rubbing their hands against their shoulders when facing stressful situations