Many are familiar with such an abbreviation as NLP. What is it, not everyone knows. After reading this article, you will get acquainted with this area of ââpsychology, which has gained great fame today. Neuro-linguistic programming is how NLP stands for.
What it is? You can briefly answer this question as follows: this is a field of psychology that studies the structure of subjective human experience, and also develops a language for its description, deals with the disclosure of modeling methods and mechanisms of this experience to improve it and transfer the revealed models to other people. At first, NLP was called "metacognition." In other words, it is a science about the structure of our experience and knowledge.
Name Details
The first part in the name âNLPâ (âneuroâ) reflects what should be understood as âbrain languagesâ to describe human experience. These are neurological processes responsible for the processing, storage and transmission of information. NLP makes it possible to understand how the internal perception is arranged. The second part - âlinguisticâ - indicates the importance that language has in describing the characteristics of behavior and thinking mechanisms, as well as in organizing various communication processes. The final part - âprogrammingâ - emphasizes that behavioral and thought processes are systematic: in Greek, âprogramâ means âa sequence of steps that are aimed at achieving a particular result.â
Therefore, the name as a whole reflects the fact that NLP refers to subjective human experience and to people's lives as systemic processes with their own structure. Thanks to this, it becomes possible to study them, as well as to identify the most successful experience, which we usually call talent, intuition, natural giftedness, etc.
Holistic approach to NLP theory
What is this area of ââpsychology, you now know. Note its main features. NLP can be considered as a scientific field of knowledge, and even as an art, since it can be represented at the level of practical technologies and tools, as well as at the level of spirituality. It is based on a holistic approach to the study of human experience, based on the concept of the unity of spirit, body and mind.
NLP authors and the research they relied on
NLP was born as a result of the interdisciplinary interaction of various researchers who studied the work experience of such great psychotherapists as Virginia Satir, Fritz Perls, Milton Erickson. Its founders are considered professional linguist John Grinder and psychologist and mathematician Richard Bandler. In addition, the co-authors of NLP include Judith Delosier, Leslie Cameron, Robert Dilts, David Gordon, Frank Pucelik. Today this area is actively developing and supplemented by new developments. The circle of its co-authors is constantly growing.
NLP as an integrative independent field of knowledge has grown from models of practical psychology, while incorporating all the best from a practical point of view. At first it was very eclectic, but over time it acquired a powerful methodology based largely on the epistemology of G. Bateson, works on the theory of communication, ecology of reason. In addition, B. Russell's theory of logical types was used, which became the prototype of logical levels in NLP. What is it, you will learn by referring to books on NLP.
At the first stage of its development, it began with a simulation of Fritz Perls. This person is the founder of gestalt therapy. Modeling was carried out taking into account all the most important principles and approaches of gestalt psychology. That is why the way NLP looks at mental and behavioral patterns is largely due to the Gestalt method. The second âmodelâ that was used is special linguistic patterns that create trance states of different depths. They were used in the work of Milton Erickson, a famous hypotherapist. John Grinder, relying on the works of Noam Chomsky, achieved a doctorate in linguistics. Therefore, it becomes clear why linguistics should also be attributed to the scientific roots of NLP. Its authors proceeded from the idea that subjective experience and its internal processes are reflected in linguistic structures and in speech.
The scientific foundations of NLP, among other things, include the development of behavioral psychology. Its founder is A.P. Pavlov, Russian academician. Of particular importance are discoveries in the field of conditioned reflex activity. The authors of NLP did not focus their attention on the mechanism of reflexes, but on the difference between unconditioned and conditional, on the study of triggers (external stimuli) that trigger a specific reflex. This topic in NLP is called anchoring.
NLP - a way to manipulate?
NLP has gained great fame today. You can learn some technologies and techniques quite quickly and almost immediately feel the practical benefits. Unfortunately, in the media sometimes individuals say that NLP is a way of manipulation. However, in reality itâs just a set of techniques and methods of description, something like an alphabet that helps to convey knowledge. NLP, like any other tool, can be used both to the benefit and to the detriment. For centuries, manipulators have perfected their skills, long before NLP techniques arose. Therefore, it is wrong to connect these phenomena.
What can you learn by mastering these techniques?
First of all, you will learn to better understand others, their needs and needs, you will be able to clearly convey your thoughts to the interlocutor. A person is often not able to clearly and clearly express what he would like to say. You will learn how to ask questions correctly, which will help others clarify their thoughts, structure ideas, and also save a lot of time and energy.
Note that NLP is a purely practical thing. He should learn by practicing skills and immediately applying them in practice. Studying in practice and in books is like comparing a person who can speak fluently in a foreign language with one who can only translate with a dictionary.
Why do people attend NLP trainings?
In addition to practicing practical skills, you will meet many interesting people. You can, jointly performing the exercises, not only communicate in a relaxed atmosphere, but also make friends, see yourself from the outside, and also note in others your own mistakes or moments that you have already managed to cope with. NLP training is usually pretty fun. A significant part of the time is devoted not to lectures, but to practicing the knowledge and skills that are being studied.
In addition to cognitive tasks, others are also solved in the course of the training - to spend time with benefit and interest, to understand ourselves, in relationships with other people, to set goals for the future, to solve the complex tasks facing the training participants. All together, this can be defined by the term "personal growth."
Duration and specifics of trainings
NLP training is usually inexpensive. However, it has specifics - if you seriously study it in order to subsequently be able to freely use its elements, you need to devote a rather long time to the process of developing skills. Therefore, the minimum certification course time is 21 days. Classes are usually held once a month on weekends and last for 8 months.
Practical benefit
NLP programming can help you in various areas of life. For example, when starting a conversation, people often do not realize what they want to get as a result of it. Many problems are quite easy to avoid if you constantly remember the purpose of communication. This will not allow you to make offensive mistakes. What other rules of NLP for every day can be noted? Before you start a conversation, think about why you need it, what purpose you are facing, whether the person you are talking to understands your position, what arguments he may have. People are sometimes so addicted to the dispute process that they can forget about everything, including the possible consequences. The ability to control emotions and stop in time is another useful skill that NLP programming provides.
Application of the anchoring technique
You can use a technique called anchoring to control your emotional state. With it, you can prepare in advance for a difficult and unpleasant conversation, while maintaining a positive state. You will also learn how to change automatic responses to factors that annoy you, using NLP. This practice is quite simple, however, it is better to master anchoring in training or in life, and not theoretically. In writing, what would be easy to demonstrate may cause confusion and doubt.
Anchoring is the creation of a connection between a specific event and what is associated with it. The ship is immovably held by an anchor. In the same way, a psychological anchor causes a corresponding connection - a personâs physical or emotional state changes, or we recall some past situation by association. This NLP rule works well.
Unconscious anchors, for example, can be âhappyâ clothes, the smell of your favorite perfumes, photographs, etc. To create an anchor for a calm and positive state, you can, for example, use a photograph of the place where you were once happy. You can also use special words or gestures that can be repeated mentally in difficult times. These are, for example, the words: "I am calm." It is important that they do not have denial, as well as double meanings. You will practice all these and many other tricks at the NLP training. This practice has already helped many people from all over the world.
NLP today
Developing and integrating the most effective technologies and models, NLP today has been widely used in training, communication, creativity, art, business, therapy and organizational consulting, that is, wherever the resources of human behavior and thinking are used most effectively. NLP today is primarily a methodology that can successfully serve various areas of human progress.
Currently, in most countries, NLP is widespread. The best of it is used by many in practice, so the need for training arose. In the USA, for example, there are about 100 organizations associated with it; in Germany, there are about 70 large institutes and centers involved in the development and research on its basis in various fields. This area of ââpsychology has come to Russia recently and is not yet part of formal education. However, NLP training is carried out as a special course in practical psychology at many institutes and universities. NLP today is available to a greater extent in our country in educational centers, as well as companies that use it (NLP consulting).
NLP: books
By far, one of the most popular books is From Frogs to Princes (R. Bandler, D. Grinder). It is recommended to everyone, especially good at the initial stages of study. Another useful book is Communication Skill (A. Lyubimov). Everything is explained in an accessible and understandable way: sorting gates, fine tuning, meta message and other NLP terms. This book will be enough to teach the basics of this field. You may also need other works. In the book of Gorin S.A. "Have you tried hypnosis?" You will find excellent descriptions of Erickson hypnosis and trance guidance techniques. The book "NLP for happy love" is also very popular today. Its author is Eva Berger. "NLP for happy love" is useful to those who want to find a soul mate and live happily ever after.