Key terms and concepts used throughout PressureIQ, from pressure modes to the neuroscience behind your stress response.
When stress hits, Guardians instinctively move toward others. They absorb emotional shockwaves, prioritize team cohesion, and create psychological safety so others can keep functioning. Their nervous system stays socially engaged even under pressure.
Fighters activate under pressure with immediate emotional energy. They speak up, push back, and refuse to let problems go unnamed. Their sympathetic nervous system channels stress into confrontation and advocacy.
Drivers transform pressure directly into action. When stress rises, they accelerate. They are the first to decide, the first to move, and they break logjams through sheer momentum. Their stress response is task-directed and kinetic.
Phantoms detach under pressure. They go through the motions while internally withdrawing. Their dorsal vagal system disengages them from the stressor as a form of self-preservation, conserving energy by reducing presence.
Sentinels stay calm and observant under pressure. They regulate their own stress response to maintain clarity, scanning for patterns and information others miss. Their ventral vagal system keeps them composed and strategically engaged.
Fortresses compartmentalize under pressure. They close off emotionally, lock down information flow, and become impenetrable. Their dorsal vagal system creates a protective shutdown that shields them from overwhelm.
How you make decisions and execute when deadlines are tight and the clock is ticking. Measures whether you accelerate, freeze, delegate, or cut corners under time-based stress.
How you respond when facing disagreement, confrontation, or tension with colleagues, managers, or stakeholders. Captures relational stress responses from fight to withdrawal.
How you operate when information is incomplete, rules are unclear, and there is no obvious right answer. Reveals whether you seek structure, explore, freeze, or default to action.
How you behave when the consequences of your choices are significant and the margin for error is thin. Shows whether pressure amplifies your precision or impairs your judgment.
A neuroscience framework developed by Dr. Stephen Porges that explains how the vagus nerve creates three distinct states of nervous system activation — ventral vagal (social engagement), sympathetic (fight/flight), and dorsal vagal (shutdown). PressureIQ maps each pressure mode to one of these states.
The part of your nervous system that operates automatically, regulating heart rate, breathing, digestion, and stress responses. It has two main branches: the sympathetic (activation) and parasympathetic (rest), with the vagus nerve playing a central role.
The newest branch of the autonomic nervous system, associated with social engagement, safety, and connection. When active under stress, it enables calm communication, empathy, and collaboration. Linked to Guardian and Sentinel modes.
The 'fight or flight' branch of the nervous system that mobilizes energy for action under perceived threat. It increases heart rate, sharpens focus, and prepares the body for rapid response. Linked to Fighter and Driver modes.
The oldest branch of the autonomic nervous system, associated with shutdown, withdrawal, or conservation of energy under overwhelming stress. When active, it reduces metabolic activity and promotes immobilization. Linked to Phantom and Fortress modes.
A ventral vagal stress response pattern where you instinctively protect others through connection, emotional support, and team cohesion. The Guardian mode's polyvagal signature.
A sympathetic stress response pattern where you engage conflict directly through emotional confrontation, advocacy, and pushing back. The Fighter mode's polyvagal signature.
A sympathetic stress response pattern where you channel stress into rapid action, task completion, and momentum rather than interpersonal confrontation. The Driver mode's polyvagal signature.
A dorsal vagal stress response pattern where you emotionally withdraw, going through the motions while internally disengaging from the stressor. The Phantom mode's polyvagal signature.
A ventral vagal stress response pattern where you maintain composure by scanning for threats, reading the room, and managing risk through vigilant monitoring. The Sentinel mode's polyvagal signature.
A dorsal vagal stress response pattern where you close off external input, compartmentalize, and become emotionally impenetrable to maintain internal stability. The Fortress mode's polyvagal signature.
One of six distinct behavioral patterns that emerge when you're under stress — your automatic response style. Each mode reflects a specific nervous system state and has unique strengths and watch points.
One of four categories of workplace pressure situations measured by PressureIQ: time pressure, interpersonal conflict, ambiguity and uncertainty, and high-stakes decisions.
Your primary pressure mode — the stress response pattern that activates most frequently and strongly when you're under pressure. This is the mode that defines your core pressure identity.
Your secondary pressure mode — the stress response pattern that activates when your dominant mode is insufficient, unavailable, or when the situation requires a different approach.
Your complete stress response fingerprint, showing the relative strength of all six pressure modes across four domains. The full profile (Pro) reveals how your response shifts depending on the type of pressure.
How often a pressure mode 'won' when compared against other modes in forced-choice pairs. The adaptive engine normalizes win rates across all three assessment formats (pairs, scenarios, and self-ratings) to calculate your final profile.
PressureIQ's assessment technology that learns from each response to personalize subsequent questions. Early questions explore broadly, middle questions focus on your emerging pattern, and final questions disambiguate your top modes with precision.
A monthly 5-question adaptive check-in that compares your current pressure mode against your baseline assessment. Shows whether your stress response has shifted or remained stable over time.