Overview
Co-regulation describes the process through which two nervous systems influence each other’s state and activities. It includes both internal physiology, such as shared changes in stress and bonding hormone levels, as well as external behaviors mimicking each other.
One of the most common examples of co-regulation involves the parent-child dynamic. A child being joyful can lower cortisol and raise oxytocin in a parent, which indicates to the parent that the child is not under any kind of threat. On the other hand, a child crying can cause a spike in a parent’s adrenaline which prompts them to assess for threats. The parent, if they find none, can then attempt to calm the child by presenting a calm presence for them to emulate. If a parent reacts to a child’s distress with their own distress, this can end up spiraling into co-dysregulation. In many cases, the child’s nervous system attempts to regulate the parents back, which can lead to the child applying survival mode thinking to the parents’ reactions to avoid abandonment or punishment.
Commentary
Midsommar
Midsommar is an excellent representation of co-regulation, though I don’t mean at all that it’s healthy or worthy of being emulated.