Exposed to events that never happen: Generalized unsafety, the default stress response, and prolonged autonomic activity

Jos F Brosschot; Bart Verkuil; Julian F Thayer

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.07.019

Exposed to events that never happen: Generalized unsafety, the default stress response, and prolonged autonomic activity

Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2017 Mar;74(Pt B):287-296. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.07.019. Epub 2016 Jul 25.

Authors

Jos F Brosschot¹, Bart Verkuil², Julian F Thayer³

Affiliations

¹ Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333AK Leiden, The Netherlands. Electronic address: brosschot@fw.leidenuniv.nl.
² Clinical Psychology Unit, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333AK Leiden, The Netherlands. Electronic address: bverkuil@fw.leidenuniv.nl.
³ Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Electronic address: Thayer.39@osu.edu.

PMID: 27471146
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.07.019

Abstract

Based on neurobiological and evolutionary arguments, the generalized unsafety theory of stress (GUTS) hypothesizes that the stress response is a default response, and that chronic stress responses are caused by generalized unsafety (GU), independent of stressors or their cognitive representation. Three highly prevalent conditions are particularly vulnerable to becoming 'compromised' in terms of GU, and carry considerable health risks: Thus, GUTS critically revises and expands stress theory, by focusing on safety instead of threat, and by including risk factors that have hitherto not been attributed to stress.

Keywords: Chronic stress; Default stress response; Generalized unsafety; Heart rate variability; Loneliness; Obesity; Perceived safety.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Autonomic Nervous System*
Humans
Risk Factors
Stress, Psychological*