Without a consideration of what happens in the body, guided by the nervous system, what happens in public service interactions are viewed as chosen or voluntary, which can then be seen as disrespectful, resisting, or non-compliant.

Without the lens of Polyvagal Theory, these autonomically enacted responses may be viewed as voluntary acts and often are erroneously labeled as resistance, non-compliance, or disinterest. By understanding these behaviors as adaptive survival responses and exploring the factors triggering the sense of a lack of safety, clinicians and professionals can move away from assigning motivation and moral meaning towards in favor of increased awareness, understanding, and a greater capacity to intervene effectively. Without the layer of social judgment, clinicians and professionals can help all parties experience a sense of agency, feel included in the process and cope more effectively with inevitable changes.