Tunnel Vision and Sympathetic Activation: The Fight/Flight Response

Tunnel vision, commonly associated with the sympathetic nervous system's fight/flight response, is a narrowing of perception that allows an individual to focus intensely on an immediate threat. It's a state that makes us feel 'amped up'—anxious or angry, ready to confront or flee. Physiologically, this manifests as an increased heart rate and heightened tension in the limbs as the body directs blood flow to these areas for potential action.

In the midst of fight/flight, our sensory experience narrows; the body believes that only the threat in front of us deserves our attention. This evolutionary response is still triggered in modern-day situations that our bodies interpret as threatening, though they may not pose actual physical danger
Title: The Compensated Oral and Type 6 of the Enneagram: Navigating Fear through Tunnel Vision and Neurological Arousal

Type 6 personalities within the Enneagram are often defined by their vigilance and preoccupation with security. Termed the "Loyalist," Type 6 individuals are the embodiment of the community’s protector, the watchful eye that anticipates potential threats. Yet, this constant surveillance can come with its own set of psychological and physiological responses, particularly when it intersects with the phenomenon of tunnel vision and its neurological underpinnings.

Tunnel Vision in Type 6: A Neurological Perspective

Tunnel vision is a term that describes a state where one’s focus narrows down to a specific threat, excluding all other stimuli. For Type 6 personalities, this can be understood as a manifestation of heightened arousal in the sympathetic nervous system – the part of our neurology that primes us for fight or flight. The body prepares to confront or evade danger, directing blood flow to essential areas like muscles, which can result in a literal narrowing of one’s field of vision. The world shrinks to the size of the problem at hand.

The Sympathetic and Dorsal Vagus Activation: A Double-Edged Sword

The fight/flight response is not the only player in the Type 6's physiological repertoire. Alongside it operates the dorsal vagus nerve, which governs the freeze or immobile state. In moments of overwhelming anxiety or perceived threat, the dorsal vagus can induce dissociation—a psychological detachment from the current experience as a means of self-protection. The Type 6 might appear engaged and ready, yet internally they are bracing, emotionally distancing themselves from the full impact of the fear they face.

The Loyalist’s Heroic Facade: A Defense Against Fear

The compensated oral, or the Type 6, is adept at donning the mask of the hero, sometimes to conceal a pervasive sense of fear. Interestingly, they may not consciously feel this fear; instead, they experience anger. The fear response is so rapid that it transmutes into anger before the conscious mind can register it. The fear of inadequacy and the fear of losing Being – the core sense of self – is masked by this quick shift to aggression.

Persecuted Persecutor: The Cycle of Projected Fear

The term "persecuted persecutor," as coined by Naranjo, aptly describes the Type 6’s tendency to perceive others as threatening, which, in turn, justifies their own defensive aggression. It is a preemptive strike against the vulnerability they dread to reveal. This observer/personality dyad is a complex dance where the Type 6 projects their inner turmoil onto others, creating adversaries where there may be none.

The Devil's Advocate: The Paranoia of Emptiness

In the eyes of a Type 6, emptiness equates to weakness. Their vigilant mind is always on the lookout, identifying potential critics or attackers. The Devil's Advocate within them constantly constructs scenarios of confrontation, all to avoid the deeper, more painful acknowledgment of their own perceived emptiness. It’s a state of internal "paranoia," an unending fear that someone might discover their sense of inadequacy.

The Essence of Fear and the Quest for Strength

At the heart of the Type 6's experience is a profound fear that their essence, their true self, is under threat. They are in a perpetual comparison with an idealized version of self, invariably finding themselves lacking. The fixation on strength and defense mechanisms are their strategies to stave off the pain associated with this perceived loss of being.

In summary, the Type 6 personality’s tendency towards tunnel vision is both a psychological strategy and a neurobiological response. It's a way to manage the deep-seated fear of inadequacy and the intense desire to protect the self from existential threats. The interplay of the sympathetic arousal and the activation of the dorsal vagus nerve in Type 6 personalities is a testament to the complexity of our neurology and how it shapes our engagement with the world. Through understanding these dynamics, we can better support Type 6 individuals in their journey towards true courage and inner peace.

The concept of a narcissistic pervert, though a relatively recent term emerging in the late 1980s and gaining prominence in the 1990s with the discussion around moral harassment, presents a unique challenge when analyzed through the lens of Polyvagal Theory. These individuals, constituting approximately 2 to 3% of the population, are adept at masking their true nature through rapid shifts in persona, making them elusive and complex figures in social and personal relationships.

From a Polyvagal perspective, a narcissistic pervert engages in behaviors that are fundamentally about control and dominance, rather than seeking mutual social engagement facilitated by the ventral vagal system. Their interactions are characterized by a toxic mix of sympathetic arousal (fight or flight) aimed at asserting dominance, and dorsal vagal withdrawal (shutdown) when it serves to manipulate or disengage emotionally from the harm they inflict.

In term of polyvagal therapy to heal them would be good to help them in recovering their body perception and a healthy ventral vagal activation. Probably we should overcome some fears they have about themselves and the other people

Distinguishing Narcissistic Perverts from Narcissists:

While narcissists may display an overt self-admiration and a preoccupation with their own image and needs, often linked to an overactive sympathetic state without significant harm to others, narcissistic perverts delve into more malevolent territories. They exhibit not just a self-centeredness but a profound lack of empathy, a key feature of a healthy ventral vagal state, leading to manipulative and destructive behaviors. Their actions are less about self-love and more about exploiting and degrading others to assert their superiority, often accompanied by a cold, detached demeanor indicative of dorsal vagal dominance when it suits their manipulative tactics.

Vulnerability and Attraction:

Polyvagal Theory also sheds light on why certain individuals are more susceptible to the manipulations of narcissistic perverts. Those with a naturally high ventral vagal activation, such as Enneagram Type 2 (Givers) and Type 4 (Individualists), who are oriented towards empathy and connection, may find themselves ensnared by the false promise of mutual engagement offered by narcissistic perverts. These types may inadvertently become enablers of the pervert's behaviors, mistaking their manipulative actions for genuine relational engagement, only to find themselves trapped in a cycle of abuse and devaluation.

Signs of Narcissistic Perversion in Relationships:

Within the framework of Polyvagal Theory, the signs of a narcissistic pervert in a relationship can be understood as a series of strategies aimed at maintaining control and avoiding true social engagement. These include:

Overinflated Ego and Conditional Love: Indicative of a superficial sympathetic engagement, where the pervert demands admiration and compliance.

Manipulation and Lack of Empathy: Reflecting a failure to engage the ventral vagal complex, leading to harmful, self-serving behaviors.

Domination and Control: A manifestation of the pervert's reliance on sympathetic arousal to assert dominance, often coupled with dorsal vagal withdrawal to emotionally disengage and avoid accountability.

Constant Criticism, Deception, and Gaslighting: Tactics employed to destabilize the victim's sense of self and reality, further entrenching the pervert's control.

Understanding the interplay between the Polyvagal states and the behaviors of narcissistic perverts offers a nuanced perspective on these toxic dynamics. Recognizing these patterns is the first step in disentangling oneself from such relationships and moving towards healing and re-establishing a sense of safety and mutual respect in interpersonal connections.