Faced with the same danger, reactions vary greatly: some laugh, others panic, still others remain indifferent. A horror film, a black ski slope or a plane flight never provoke the same emotions in different people. In psychology, these differences are partly explained by what we call protective frames: mental filters that influence our feeling of being safe or exposed. There
Reversal Theorydeveloped in the 1970s by psychologist Michael Apter, distinguishes three main ones.
These three protective frameworks are the trust framework, the security framework and the detachment framework. For Michael Apter, these are self-constructed views of reality that create a sort of bubble around danger. When this bubble is solid, strong physical activation can become exciting rather than distressing, what researchers call parapathic emotions, such as during a thrill ride or a guided skydive.
Protective frameworks: how trust, security and detachment work
In the trust framework, one approaches danger with a high level of activation and, at the same time, a feeling of protection. On a safari, this may mean observing a tiger a few meters from an armored vehicle. We then look for the thrill. As Vince Lombardi recalled, “Confidence is contagious. Lack of confidence is just as contagious.”
The safety framework corresponds to the moment when we feel out of danger, with no immediate possibility of shifting towards risk, for example by looking at the tiger from a long distance with binoculars. This framework is calming but can become misleading, as the Latin poet Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro) suggests: “Trust cannot find anywhere a safe place to rest.”
The detachment cadre stays at the lodge and watches the videos later, as a simple observer. Kenneth L. Pike summed up this position: “The gaze of the detached observer is a window on the world.”
How protective frameworks change your relationship to danger
When skiing, are you on the black slope, the green slope, or at the bar watching others go down? At the funfair, do you choose the roller coaster, a gentle ride or holding the bags? Each time you activate a framework of trust, security or detachment. Research in adventure tourism shows that trust in guides and equipment helps beginners experience risk as a game rather than a threat.
Adjust your protective frameworks to preserve your well-being
Running at night with headphones sometimes means remaining confident or detached while the real risk increases. Conversely, systematically choosing safety or withdrawal fuels boredom. The magazine Psychology Today reminds that “Well-being, in general, is increased when the experiences we have align with those we prefer at that moment.” Identifying your usual framework, then asking yourself if it is adapted to the situation, constitutes a first form of work on yourself.