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Psychological Subversives: What exactly is Bandler and Grinder's NLP?
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is a pseudoscientific method that first appeared in the 1975 book The Structure of Magic I by Richard Bandler and John Grinder. NLP advocates that there are connections between neural processes, language, and learned behavioral patterns, which can be modified to achieve specific life goals. Bandler and Grinder believe that NLP can even treat a variety of problems, such as phobias, depression, and tic disorders in a single session.
NLP proponents often claim that the technology can mimic the skills of exceptional people and make them easily accessible to anyone.
However, there are constant doubts about NLP in the scientific community. Several scientific reviews have shown that the old metaphors about how the brain works, on which NLP is based, no longer fit with current neurological theory and contain numerous factual errors. The study found that the methodological flaws in the research supporting NLP are quite significant. In fact, three times as many high-quality studies supporting NLP failed to replicate the claims made by Bandler, Grinder and others.
Early Development
NLP's basic techniques come from several well-known psychotherapists, including Virginia Satir, Milton Erickson, and Fritz Perls. Bandler and Grinder's book, Structures of Magic I, was intended to codify and organize these healing techniques.
They used their own modeling process to model Satir's approach and came up with a Meta-Model to collect information and challenge the client's language and thinking.
NLP is also divided into Milton-Model and Meta-Model. The former is described as "artistic ambiguity" to guide suggestions and establish a "trance" state for customers. Although Bandler and Grinder claim that their theory is supported by a variety of authoritative writers, these claims are often questioned. Linguist Karen Stollznow, for example, considers their expert citations more of an act of “citing celebrities” than a true collaboration.
Commercialization and Evaluation
NLP evolved into an industry with the rise of the human potential movement in the late 1970s. Bandler and Grinder began to promote NLP as a commercial tool, and their books such as The Frog and the Prince were the products of this process, selling over 270,000 copies.
NLP attracts attention not because of its scientific basis, but because of the personal transformation and success it promises.
However, as scientific research began, NLP proponents faced increasing challenges. The study showed a lack of empirical support for the theoretical basis of NLP, and a significant decrease in scientific research during the 1990s.
Main components of NLP
The core concepts of NLP involve three major elements: subjectivity, consciousness and learning. Bandler and Grinder argue that individual experience is subjective and that human senses and language play a key role in constructing internal representations.
NLP's learning method is mainly through "modeling", aiming to replicate professional skills in any field.
NLP technology is all-encompassing. Initially, it was largely related to therapy, but later attempts were made to apply the technology to areas such as corporate management, sales, and public speaking. When consulting with clients, the skills of building trust and collecting information about the problem are particularly critical.
Application and scientific criticism
NLP has been promoted as a treatment for a variety of conditions, including Parkinson's disease and cancer, but these claims have no medical basis. From a psychotherapeutic perspective, NLP has also been questioned for its effectiveness, with some assessments even suggesting that its relevance to science is almost zero.
NLP's core tenet "there is no failure, only feedback" has caused scandals, and many psychologists have questioned its impact on personal achievement.
The scientific community is increasingly denying NLP, believing that it fails to provide strong evidence and identifying the theory as pseudoscience. In particular, in the education community, NLP is used as a paradigm shift toward pseudoscience.
Final Thoughts
The promotion and practical application of NLP has certainly attracted countless followers, but with the rise of rigorous scientific research, people can't help but ask: How should we balance science and superstition in seeking methods for mental health and personal development? Make a choice?
