Stephen W. Porges, born in 1945, is an American psychologist renowned for his Polyvagal Theory, which explores the connection between the autonomic nervous system and social behavior. He is a professor of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Distinguished University Scientist at Indiana University, where he directs the Kinsey Institute Traumatic Stress Research Consortium. Porges is also a professor emeritus at both the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Maryland.
Porges' Polyvagal Theory emphasizes the importance of feeling safe and how physiological states impact mental and behavioral health. This theory has led to innovative treatments for various behavioral, psychiatric, and physical disorders. He developed the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), a music-based intervention used by therapists to improve social engagement, language processing, and emotional regulation. Porges has published over 400 peer-reviewed scientific papers and holds patents related to autonomic state monitoring and regulation. Recent works include the book "Polyvagal Perspectives: Interventions, Practices, and Strategies" (2024) and "Our Polyvagal World: How Safety and Trauma Change Us" (2023). He is also a co-founder of the Polyvagal Institute.