Cues of safety

Cues of safety are the signs that calm the nervous system and let us feel that we are safe. A warm tone of voice, a soft facial expression, or a familiar setting can carry to the body the message that it is safe. These cues move the nervous system toward the ventral vagal state, that is, the state of being safe. Cues of safety are often perceived before conscious thought. The body decides whether to trust according to these signs in the surroundings.