Shifts in breathing, posture, gestures and eye
movements that indicate internal mental processing such
as visualisation, auditory and kinaesthetic
activity.
Accreditation
Having official recognition by a national
government through a government body, government
department, Act of Parliament or Royal Charter with
reference to a set of government approved standards. In
the case of educational or vocational courses,
accreditation confers recognition of the qualification
offered and an assurance of adherence to a government
approved set of standards for quality.
Aligned Perceptual Positions
A term coined by Connirae Andreas to describe the
process she developed to achieve clearly well sorted
perceptual positions. When in First Position, seeing
out of your own eyes, hearing with your ears at their
location, and feeling in your own body, with only your
feelings. When in Third Position, seeing self and
other, hearing both of them, and only experiencing
feelings about the interaction. When in Second
Position, seeing, hearing and feeling as if the other.
See perceptual positions. Each perceptual position has
a particular organisation as a means of accessing high
quality information.
Analogue
Continuous change over time: continuous movement.
An example is the light dimmer switch in contrast to an
ordinary light switch which is either on or off
(digital).
Analogue Shaping
Shaping the body posture, breathing and movements
of the subject.
Anchoring
Applying a gesture, touch, or sound just before a
state peaks, either in oneself or someone else, so that
the anchored state can be re-activated by
reapplying that gesture, touch or sound. A smell can
also be used as an anchor. Eg. as you remember the
smell of a rose, you may find a memory of some
experience that involved roses coming to mind.
Psychologists recognise the pattern of anchoring as
stimulus response conditioning.
Anthropology
The study of man in his / her various
environments.
As If frame
A way of shifting into a different perceptual
framework, and thus obtaining another quality of
information. This can be especially useful if the
content you are thinking about involves a
stuck feeling. To use an "as if" frame, think
of what it would be like As if you had the
needed resource.
Associated
Experiencing the present with all your attention;
seeing, hearing and feeling the living action that is
taking place in the moment. For referring to memory or
imagination, living a past or future experience from
your viewpoint of the time; seeing, hearing and feeling
as if you are present in that moment.
Attention
The use of external senses and internal
representational systems to identify and choose the
content of thoughts and activities. Attention can be
conscious or unconscious or a combination of both.
Where one places one's conscious or unconscious
attention has an effect on cognitive processes. First
attention or the attention of the conscious mind is
limited. (See conscious awareness). Second attention
refers to the processes and organisation of the
unconscious mind.
Auditory Processing
The processing of sounds, this could be in the form
of language, music or noise. Includes the ability to
have internal dialogue, recalled information such as
remembering someone's voice, recall of music or the
construction of words, or composition of music.
Backtrack
A review, both verbal and non-verbal, of the last
portion of a discussion, presentation or set of
instructions.
Behaviour
Any human activity, this includes internal thought
processes, such as visual, auditory or kinaesthetic
processing and involuntary as well as involuntary
movement such as blinking or heart beat.
Behavioural Psychology
A school of psychology which deletes internal
cognitive processes from its descriptions of
psychology. An example of Western society's
predilection for first attention.
Behavioural Technologies
Systems and models of psychology orientated to
changing and extending human behaviour.
Beliefs
Subjective ideas about what is true and not true
for ourselves and the world, developed through exposure
to experience, and modified by perceptual filters of
distortion, generalisation and deletion. A
configuaration of submodalities that lets a person who
holds content in those submodalities know that content
is true for them.
Calibration
Learning to recognise visible, auditory and
kinaesthetic clues to an individual's use of their
mental processes. Defining that individual's
expressions by comparing their present behaviour with
their previously observed behaviour.
Capability
A context specific skill that can be broken down to
its component behaviours.
Chain of Excellence
An essential element of the New Code of NLP
developed by John Grinder. The Chain of Excellence has
four stages.
Breathing - a leverage point for change. It
affects
Physiology - change physiology and shift
State - change state and affect - Performance.
Choice Points
Moments of subjective experience which generate
significant consequences thereafter.
Chunking
Grouping information by class and sub-class,
especially useful when combined with the principles of
logical typing order. Chunking develops meaning and
thereby facilitates memory. (See logical levels).
Cognitive/analytical modelling
The conscious elicitation of the components of the
skills of an expert. May include verbal descriptions of
beliefs, values, outcomes, intentions, sequences and
processes used by the expert. This form of modelling is
outside the scope of NLP as it is of a different
logical type from the patterns of excellence that make
up the field. Analytical modelling depends on conscious
recognition of elements of expertise by the expert and
the person modelling and on conscious uptake by the
modeller. See NLP Modelling.
Cognitive Psychology
Cognition is defined by Strobe, Codol and
Stephenson in their book Introducing Social
Psychology as "The activity by which information
is received, selected, transformed and organised by
human perceivers so as to construct representations of
reality and to build knowledge".
Cognitive Science
A multi-disciplinary field of inquiry into the
perceptions of the mind. Cognitive science draws on
methodology and learning from linguistics, psychology,
philosophy, artificial intelligence and computer
science.
Complex Equivalent
The individual's cognitive map or sensory
representation of a particular word, label or
expression; the meaning they assign to an abstract form
of words. A different experience or action that has the
same meaning for an individual as the experience they
are considering. Misunderstanding occurs when two
individuals each assign meaning to an abstract word or
phrase and then act as if they were using a shared,
defined meaning.
Congruence
The match of a person's body language (gestures,
posture and voice patterns) with their verbal output
(auditory digital) while they are communicating.
Congruence in communication is one of the patterns
found in charismatic people. Note though, when a person
is communicating with congruency, this is not
necessarily an indicator of truth, rationality or
sensibility in terms of the content communicated. It
means that in the moment, they believe what they are
saying. Eg. Hitler communicated congruently, yet many
of his ideas (content), were unecological in their
effect on third parties.
Conscious awareness
The conscious mind is limited in terms of the
amount of information that can be held at any one
moment in time to seven plus or minus two chunks. The
size of the chunks is variable. A metaphoric
description is the experience of shining a torch around
a darkened room. As the light beam moves from one place
to another, you notice different items. You can never
see the entire contents of the room with the torch
light. Like the torch, conscious attention shifts from
one experience to another.
Content Reframing
Can be of two forms; either changing the response
to an experience by changing the meaning of the
experience in that context, (meaning reframe), or
leaving the meaning of the behaviour the same and
placing the behaviour in a different context (context
reframing).
Context
The situation, time and place within which
designated activity takes place.
Criterion (S), Criteria (P)
An individual's or organisation's definition of
what is important to them in terms of their particular
standards and values.
Cross-pacing
Taking any repetitive behaviour on the part of the
subject, and matching that behaviour through a
different communication channel. You could speak in
time to the subjects breathing. If the person is
blinking, you could tap a pencil in time to their blink
rate. Cross-pacing builds rapport with the person's
unconscious mind and is a subtle, less noticeable
approach to building or maintaining rapport than
mirroring the subject's behaviour directly.
Cultural conditioning
The assimilation of beliefs, values and ways of
one's culture of upbringing is sometimes referred to as
cultural conditioning. We have all been shaped to a
greater or lesser extent by the social context in which
we grew-up, and by the social, political, economic and
cultural contexts in which we live subsequently. One of
the benefits of the models Neuro-Linguistic Programming
and Ericksonian hypnosis is the capability to evaluate
the various belief systems that one adopted, and to
update, change and enrich those maps of
reality if so desired. This process brings added
flexibility and choice into one's life.
Culture
The generally agreed upon maps within a particular
community of people which guide behaviour. These agreed
upon maps form collectively a consensus reality for the
group and generally operate outside conscious
awareness.
Cybernetic epistemology (systems epistemology)
An orientation to pattern and the relationship
between parts of a system, rather than
usingquantification, and reductionism as in Newtonian
physics. Cybernetic epistemology is based on the
premise that living systems such as a person, family or
ecology function on different rules to the world of
physics. (See Epistemology and Systems Thinking).
Cybernetics
The study of communication systems in both man and
machines. Cybernetics has been traditionally applied to
machines, computer systems and computer software.
Cybernetics can also be applied to the individual, the
family (as in the family systems models) and social
systems such as communities and societies.
Deep Trance
Identification
A hypnotic process where the subject enters a
profoundly altered state and makes arrangements through
his or her unconscious mind, in trance, to model
specific or general patterns displayed by the model of
excellence.
Deletion
The process of excluding portions of experience of
the world from one's internal representations, and
one's speech.
Description (map, model)
An internal representation that we have that guides
our behaviour. Primarily we have sensory
representational systems, that is, we represent the
world in mental images, sound tracks and sensation.
There is also secondary representation, language. ie.
we can represent our internal pictures, sounds and
feelings in language.
Digital
Sudden change in state. A standard light switch is
digital, it can only be on or off.
Discovery Frame
Involves a psychological state, (see
State) and an attitude in terms of perception.
Expectation, judgement and desire are suspended for the
duration of the exercise in order to discover what
happens to one's perceptions and ideas as a result of
participating in it. That subjective state and attitude
in relation to the wider world. ie. the expert being
modelled and / or the world at large.
Dissociation
The process of stepping outside the point of view
of experiencing the world from one's physical position;
seeing oneself from outside the self and, for internal
representations, from outside the image and separate
from the sounds.
Distortion
Inaccurate reproduction of events in any recording
medium, including human representation. Distortion in
language refers to demonstrably inaccurate comments on
any subject.
Dovetailing Outcomes
Two or more parties' outcomes, in which the
achievement of one facilitates achievement of the
other(s). The first step in negotiating anything is to
elicit all parties' outcomes, then derive a common set
of outcomes by chunking up to a higher logical level.
At this point the outcomes are said to be
dovetailed.
Down time
The process of putting one's attention to internal
processes and representations within one's mind.
Ecology
The process of considering the effects of any
change in behaviour across a number of time frames,
situations and places for self and others. What are the
consequences now, in the future, for oneself, for
significant others, in various contexts such as home,
career, lifestyle, as well as possible effects on the
physical environment. The use of the answers to these
questions is determined by the values held important by
that individual.
Elegance
In NLP elegance
describes the performance of a particular pattern in a
streamlined, efficient, and natural way. Elegance
denotes the minimum activity that is necessary and
sufficient to produce the desired outcome with
acceptable and ecological consequences. "The minimal
number of distinctions necessary to provide an
effective replication of the talent" (Grinder, DeLozier
and Bandler, 1977).
Elicitation
The art through communication of getting a
particular response or piece of information from
someone. As practitioners of Neuro-Linguistic
Programming and Ericksonian hypnosis, we are involved
in eliciting from clients the resources they need to
take themselves from the present state to their desired
outcome.
Emotion
A sequence of internal representations and external
sensory input, usually ending with a kinaesthetic
(hence the colloquial term "feeling"). An emotion may
occur in response to sensory input or internal
representation, whether these activities are conscious
or unconscious. Compare with "Thought; a sequence of
internal representations and external sensory
input".
Emotional states - mapping and shifting
It is possible to unpack and define the structure
of emotional states, whether experienced as enhancing
or limiting to the individual. Once a particular
emotion has been mapped out, the structure of the state
in question can be altered if desired, to create
something more useful for oneself.
Endorsement
A statement of recognition or approval from a
non-official and non-government body or individual. Can
be a signal honour and provide a boost to credibility
when given by a credible or knowledgeable person.
Endorsement does not denote or confer offical
recognition nor accreditation.
Epistemology
The study of how we know what we know, how
creatures or groups of creatures, including humans,
from families to cultures, societies and the global
living system, think, and decide. It reveals the
premises underlying outer behaviour and inner thinking.
These premises may be based on the history of society
and the individual, and they set filters which allow or
limit the passage of new information of difference into
the mind. Sub-systems such as an individual, or a
family may have a particular epistemology. Systems such
as an extended family, culture or society may have a
dominant epistemology, and the greater system of
interconnected life has a number of epistemology's. The
dominant epistemology of the West is still based on
Cartesian mind-body dualism, although some thinkers
perceive this to be in error. They believe it to be a
major contribution to the present imbalance and damage
to the greater system of life on earth.
Ericksonian Hypnosis
Communication models developed from studies of the
innovative psychiatrist Dr Milton H. Erickson, for
working with an individual's subjective experience. In
contrast to traditional Hypnosis, which uses ritual
inductions and direct suggestion, Ericksonian hypnosis
stresses the importance of respecting the uniqueness of
each individual and the development of trance states
shaped for that person. Subsequently, an Ericksonian
approach to hypnosis involves calibration, the use of
context and indirect suggestion to facilitate learning
within the individual. In Ericksonian hypnosis the
relationship between guide and subject is important,
and therefore attention is given to rapport,
communication, high quality information gathering and
feedback.
Ethology
The comparative study of the behaviour of
creatures, which include humans, living in their
natural environment. Used to be known as 'natural
history' before humans were included in the study.
Eye Accessing Cues
The directional movements of the eyes which
indicate the accessing of different modes of thinking,
or representational systems. These are visual recall
and construction, auditory recall and construction,
kinaesthetic (feeling, proprioception, sensation), and
internal dialogue or auditory digital.
Features
A chosen distinction that one attends to while
observing the model expressing the target capability.
Some of the features Neuro Linguistic Pogrammers
traditionally attend to are eye accessing cues, changes
in skin colour, muscle tone, voice tonality, and voice
rhythm. Through careful observation one may detect a
new feature that operates in some sort of pattern.
Within the NLP community
the term distinctions is used interchangably with
features.
Feedback
The set of mechanisms that let you know whether or
not you are moving towards your desired outcome.
Feldenkrais method
A system of movement re-education developed by the
nuclear physicist Moshe Feldenkrais. The Feldenkrais
method works with the patterns of movement, breathing
and posture and re-imprints new, more functional
patterns into the nervous system. The Feldenkrais
technology has been referred to as the NLP of the
body because of its 'systemic thinking' approach. See
systemic thinking.
First Order Change
Change occurring on the same logical level as the
problem state. Eg acting on behaviour to obtain a
change in behaviour.
First Position
The act of looking out of one's own eyes, hearing
with one's ears, feeling, tasting and scenting, using
one's own organs within one's body, and making one's
own internal representations.
Flexibility
An extended range of behavioural responses that can
be drawn upon. Each sensory channel has an extended
range of ways of recalling and constructing
representations. Also an extended range of emotional
responses which can be elicited, created and expressed
for each situation encountered by the individual. At a
more complex level of processing, flexibility describes
access to an extended range of perceptual filters. The
use of flexibility is in its application to any given
context, such that the individual can use behaviour
which serves them in that context, whether
conventionally accepted or otherwise, with reference to
their own ecology.
Frame
The context surrounding a given set of events and
behaviour, imparting meaning to those interactions by
its presence.
Future Pace
The process of placing new or desired behaviours,
capabilities and or perceptual filters into the future
for use in appropriate times and places. (See
Simulation Programming).
Generalisation
The act of taking a specific incident or behaviour
and generalising the content across contexts, as if it
were a generic pattern. Eg "people always do that", or
"if it works at all, it will work everywhere".
Generative Change
A change that creates the possibility of further
change ensuing through time as a result of the initial
change taking place. Eg. Feeding someone for a day
provides three free meals only. Teaching them to fish
enables them to provide their own food, earn their
living, and teach others. That is a generative
change.
Genius State
An up-time resource state in which an individual's
attention is directed outwards, into the environment.
Often it includes long distance and peripheral vision,
an absence of internal dialogue, and optimal
physiological posture and movement. It often includes
awareness of well formed outcomes, how to act as
if, the ability to construct pictures and sounds,
to use multiple perceptual positions, different logical
levels, and conscious/unconscious interface.
Gestalt
The totality of an experience at all logical levels
and in all senses.
Gestalt Psychology
A school of psychology.
Gustatory
Pertaining to taste.
Homeostasis
Literally, the stillness of sameness. A state of
stability.
Hypnosis
The art of altering another person's state, usually
applied to deliberate trance induction and
utilisation.
Identity
The conventional concepts of self image, self
esteem and self concept are examples of identity. In
this work the construct of identity includes the way we
see, hear and feel about ourselves. An identity
representation of this type, aligned and matching in
all senses is a significant pattern found in
individuals who are able to bring their dreams to
fruition.
Imprint
In most animals imprinting is the triggering of an
innate instinctive behaviour, such as attachment to
parents or parent substitutes, during a critical or
sensitive time period. With most animals imprinting is
irreversible. In humans imprinting is reversible, and
takes place in many formative situations in which
beliefs and values are learned.
Incongruence
A partial or divided response which is indicative
of uncertainty in the mind of the respondent. An
incongruent response can be elicited in someone by
offering them incongruent communication (mixed
messages) or insufficient information with which to
operate. Where internal conflict is already apparent,
there is a shortage of information in the individual's
own system. Incongruence can be simultaneous, as
described, or sequential, in which case the subject
appears to be congruent in favour of an action while in
a given state and equally congruently against the same
action when in a different state.
Information
Gregory Bateson describes information as "news
of difference" (Mind and Nature; A necessary
unity, 1979). Our sensory apparatus and neurology
responds to difference in the world as
information.
Integration
Integration is the act of embodying learned
material, and is mediated through the vestibular
apparatus. This specialised sense enables us to live in
the whole of ourselves, experience states of pleasure
and is involved with spatial orientation and movement
towards our outcomes in the external world.
Intention
The reason or purpose behind a specific piece of
behaviour. The answer to the question, "What did you do
that for?". Intention is not always apparent from
behaviour, and is deemed to be positive, at least for
the person doing the behaviour, according to their
model of the world.
Internal negotiation
The act of separating out different parts of
oneself which appear to want different and conflicting
outcomes for the whole person. Having elicited each
part's outcome, one can ascertain the function of each
outcome, and chunk up through logical levels to a point
where each part shares beliefs, values and a common
outcome. It is then possible to align the parts to the
common cause, and sometimes integrate them into each
other.
Internal representation
The pictures, sounds and feelings that we make on
the inside; our thoughts. Our internal representations,
also known as mental maps, govern our behaviour in the
world.
In Time
A state in which the individual perceives the
passage of time as continuous in the present, where the
future has limited importance, and the past is no
longer relevant.
Kinesics
The formal study of body language.
Kinaesthetic
Pertaining to feeling, touching, proprioception,
sensation.
Leading
Using verbal and non-verbal communication to elicit
a desired response from another person. Usually
preceded by pacing, to establish rapport prior to
leading.
Lead System
The first sensory system to take in information
from the outside. Can be outside conscious awareness.
The lead system was once thought to be relatively
constant in an individual, but according to Grinder
(Boulder; Pattern Detection 1996) the lead system is
subject to change. The lead system is the first element
in any strategy.
Linguistics
The formal study of languages. In English
linguistics is broken into the following major areas of
study; phonology, the study of phonemes the basic
components of sound in spoken language, morphology, the
smallest meaningful components of words, syntax, the
rules or grammar of language and semantics, the meaning
of language. Syntax is an important component of
Neuro-Linguistic Programming as the order and sequence
of utterances has a profound effect on the meaning of
what is said.
Logical Levels
A system for organising representations
(information) into classes and sub-classes. eg. Apples
are a member of the class fruit which belongs to the
class food. Food occupies a higher logical level than
apple. An example of the same logical level as apple is
pear, and a specific (lower logical level) example of
apple is Sturmer. Logical levels are useful for
categorising and remembering information. Given the
concept of seven plus or minus two chunks of
information, one has a choice in this example of
holding in conscious attention seven kinds of apples,
seven kinds of fruit, seven kinds of food etc,
according to the chunk size adopted.
Macro modelling
An example of cognitive modelling. Constructing a
model of the broader context (situation, time and
place) where the expert successfully expresses the
target capability, as well as using content categories
such as Dilts Neurological levels. These activities all
fall outside the scope of NLP being of different
logical types.
Micro modelling
Building descriptions of specific thought processes
used by a model within a specific context. A series of
micro models ,making up a complex capability. Another
example of cognitive modelling.
Map
In NLP map is a
general term synonymous with description or subjective
representation of reality.
Map of Reality
Reference to NLP
presupposition, "The map is not the territory". If
everything a person senses is at one remove from
external reality, then their representations constitute
a map.
Meta-cognition
Thinking about one's thought processes from an
outside perspective (meta-position).
Meta Model
A meta model is a model of a model. In the world of
NLP the Meta
Model refers to a language tool developed by John Grinder and Richard Bandler to
enable users to verify, clarify and specify imprecise
verbal and written communication. The Meta Model
provides questions to elicit information which
previously was distorted, generalised and deleted.
Meta modelling
The process of building Models for describing
models. see Strategies.
Metaphor
A description of a set of circumstances designed to
replicate the patterns of a real set of
circumstances, used to offer solutions and suggestions
or learning. Often used to allow learning to occur
directly through the unconscious mind. Includes
allegory and simile.
Meta Programs
Content descriptions of some of the ways in which
people can and do place their attention. The first meta
programs were described by John Grinder as a humourous
method of showing the distinction between patterns and
content models for his students at UCSC. The
distinction is made by chunking up from a content
example to the pattern that informs it. Meta programs
were taken up by Leslie Cameron-Bandler and her
colleagues and used for profiling people.
Cameron-Bandler now identifies meta programs as
content. As a content model, meta program
categorisation and use has no place in the context of
NLP.
Methodology
A set of tools, techniques, procedures and
investigative methods, used to collect, store, analyse
and present information. Scientific methodology
involves the development of hypotheses and predictions,
investigating the manipulation of particular variables
while maintaining all other variables constant, using
measurable, objective measures and statistical analyses
in order to come to conclusions about the topic under
investigation.
Milton Model
The Milton Model is a reflection of the Meta Model,
in that it has the exact opposite function. It was
developed by John Grinder, Richard
Bandler, and Judith DeLozier after they modelled the
psychiatrist and hypnotist Dr. Milton H. Erickson.
Instead of filling in the gaps in language left by
distortion generalisation and deletion, the Milton
Model deliberately distorts, generalises and deletes
information to offer direction for thought with
non-specific content. This allows each listener to
construct or remember their own experience within the
framework offered by the speaker or writer. Examples
where the Milton Model is used include Hypnotic
induction and utilisation, political speeches and
religious ceremonial language.
Mismatching
Doing something differently from another person
with the result that rapport is broken. For example,
breathing at a different rate, speaking more quickly or
slowly than the other. Can be conscious or
unconscious.
Mission Statement
A general statement of a vision in word form. It is
important to have a rich representation of the vision
in all the senses. Then the mission statement can be
written in language which allows all parties to it to
derive meaning from it, yet be precise enough to guide
them towards achieving it. It is a general statement of
intent, normally restricted to five or six lines of
type.
The effective description, replication and transfer
of human capabilities from one person to another. It
includes the detection of patterns of behaviour, the
relationship of those patterns to a particular context,
and some intended outcome. When modelling, we elicit
and describe a series of templates of the thinking
patterns used by an expert in the course of their
expertise. We develop models within the framework of
elegance, that is using the minimal number of
distinctions necessary to provide an effective
replication of the talent (Grinder, DeLozier & Bandler,
1977). By removing any inessential features the
capability is streamlined. A form of learning where a
person is exposed to the behaviours and qualities of a
significant other, which leads to the representation,
internalising and later expression of those behaviours
and or qualities. Examples include children modelling
parents, students modelling a mentor or teacher, and
the apprenticeship system. When done deliberately,
modelling is the elicitation and replication of
particular skills and expertise from a chosen expert in
that field. Often the most valuable components of their
skills were previously outside their conscious
awareness.
Modal Operator
Linguistic term referring to words which denote
requirement or options. Cited in meta-model as modal
operators of necessity (should, must, have to) and
modal operators of possibility (might, could).
Model of the World
The sum total of an individual's beliefs and
values, perceptual filters, desires and expectations,
experiences and learning's about the world. Each person
has an unique combination of the above. As human
beings, our behaviour is governed by how we perceive,
believe, and think about ourselves and the world. It is
our internal representation of reality, and the
processes we use to organise our internal
representations that shape our actions. These internal
maps and the relationships within our minds
are referred to as our model of the
world.
Multiple Descriptions
We act on and through our maps of reality rather
than on the world directly. Having and using multiple
maps of the world offer distinct advantages over any
single map. Different descriptions for different
circumstances, as well as multiple descriptions for a
particular context add richness in terms of possible
choices in how to act and be in the world. A minimum of
three examples of any given skill, concept or activity,
thus allowing the learner to cross refer and understand
in depth. The purpose of creating multiple descriptions
is to enable the individual to access a wider range of
information, including that which may have been outside
their awareness. That having and using multiple maps of
the world offer distinct advantages over any single
map. Different descriptions for different
circumstances, as well as multiple descriptions for a
particular context add richness in terms of possible
choices in how to act and be in the world.
Multiple Intelligences
In this model it is presupposed that individuals in
Western society are exposed to many different
experiences, and that it is norm for an individual to
develop different capabilities and mental strategies,
expressed as multiple intelligences. These are commonly
listed as visual, spatial, linguistic, musical,
physical, and numerical, and they cover a broader range
of activity than that which is measured in IQ
tests.
Neuro Linguistic
Programming
NLP models
patterns of human excellence. This includes the way
people of excellence take in information from the
world, how they describe it to themselves with their
senses, filter it with their beliefs and values, and
act on the result. In summary there is a person, their
descriptions and the world; and NLP studies
the relationships between them.
NLP Application is the application of NLP modelled
patterns to topics and contexts where they can
contribute. NLP Training is the art of enabling others
to learn the patterns of NLP and to distinguish
patterns from content. NLP Training using the New Code
methodology is the art of enabling others to learn the
patterns of NLP accurately and generatively through
discovery and unconscious uptake, before they become
conscious of what they are doing.
Neuro-logical Levels
A list of specific content categories, developed by
Robert Dilts to assist people to sort their ideas.
Refers to environment, behaviour, capability, belief,
identity, mission. Called "neuro-logical" levels
because in Dilts' opinion, the further up the list, the
more neurology is involved in the experience. Does not
belong in the field of NLP being of a different logical
type.
Neuroscience
A branch of psychology, also called physiological
psychology. Neuroscience is the study of the
functioning of the nervous system which includes the
structures and functioning of the brain and its
relationship to behaviour.
New Code
A description of NLP which uses
a systemic approach to demonstrate and teach the
patterns by providing a series of contexts in which
they manifest spontaneously. In the New Code of NLP the
unconscious of the client is explicitly assigned the
responsibility for the selection of the critical
elements-the desired state, the resource, or new
behaviour. The unconscious is explicitly involved in
all steps. There are precise constraints placed upon
the selection of new behaviour, more specifically, the
new behaviour must satisfy the original positive
intention(s) of the behaviour to be changed. The
manipulation occurs at the level of state and intention
as opposed to that of behaviour. (Grinder, Bostic
2000).
NLP Modelling
A five step process described by Grinder and Bostic
in "Whispering in the Wind" (2000). This is the form of
modelling which is taught in NLP.
Identify one or more appropriate models of
excellence in the skill to be modelled.
Model implicitly by unconscious uptake for as long
as it takes, with explicit intent to refuse to allow
conscious analysis, understanding or coding.
Continue implicit modelling until as competent as
the model and performing at that level of competence
and in the same time frame as the model. Continue to
use the skill unconsciously. For practical purposes
this is the last step in the process.
If there is a need to make the skill explicit, only
do it after a period of practice with the skill after
modelling is complete. Allow the patterns to become
conscious and choose an appropriate form of coding for
the explication of the model.
Teach the patterns you have identified and coded to
someone else. The evidence of your accuracy will be in
their behaviour.
Nominalisation
A verb which has been turned into an abstract noun.
Ie the name of something which cannot be put in a wheel
barrow, or described as an 'Ongoing X'. Eg decision,
revision, opposition.
Olfactory
Pertaining to the sense of smell.
Other than conscious Mind
Another way of describing the unconscious mind.
That which is outside conscious awareness.
Outcomes
In Neuro-Linguistic Programming a representation of
what we want in a specific context, involving all
representational systems. To be well-formed, an outcome
is also stated in positive terms, has defined resources
that the individual can get access to, is within the
individual's control, has demonstrable evidence and is
ecological.
Overlap
A language pattern for leading a person from a
representational system which they are already using,
into another representational system, either
simultaneously or sequentially.
Pacing
The act of matching breathing, posture, movement,
voice tones and tempo with someone over time, in order
to develop rapport.
Paradigm
The aggregate of beliefs and values out of which a
culture, corporation or other group operates.
Parts
An imaginary division of an individual into
separate segments, each motivated by an outcome the
individual wants, and capable of generating behaviour
designed to obtain their outcomes.
Pattern
Any sequence of features that repeats over
time.
Perceptual filters (perceptual biases)
The socially and psychologically constructed bias
through which we filter our perceptions of the world.
Some perceptual filters remain the same regardless of
the state a person is in, while others shift according
to the state of the perceiver. It is useful to be able
to access an extended range of perceptual filters, and
change filters, or build new filters at will. This
shifting of perceptual filters enables the user to
obtain a greater range and quality of information about
the world. The process of perceptual filter flexibility
is a major component of a dynamic, balanced and
creative personality. According to John Grinder " It is
the Perceptual Filters that you set just before you
begin a class of activities, that are the difference
that make the difference ".
Perceptual Position
Any point of view taken by an individual at a given
time. The most commonly cited perceptual positions are
First Position, that of the performer in their own
body, Second Position, that of the other, and Third
Position, that of the performer observing themself and
the other from outside, usually equidistant from First
and Second. Other observer positions are known as Meta
Positions, and can be anywhere, close or distant with a
sight line to that which is being observed.
Personal Ecology
Ensuring that choices made and activities
undertaken fit with one's beliefs and values in the
context of life, the future and other people. We
conduct this work in NLP within the frame work of
personal ecology and personal safety. By organising our
selves or parts of self with respect for ecology, it is
possible to create balance in the way we function to
attain our outcomes and accommodate important
values.
Personal evolution
The interaction of pattern, communication and
relationship in our ongoing experience leading to new
learning and new choices in one's behavioral
flexibility.
Phonological Ambiguity
A word with different meaning and sometimes
different spelling which sounds the same. eg. Heal and
heel.
Physiology
Matters pertaining to the physical body and its
use. The general posture and breathing of the
individual is highly correlated with psychological
state and cognitive processes. Note for yourself the
difference in 'physiology' when contrasting a
resourceful and unresourceful state eg. excitement and
interest compared to depression.
Posture, breathing and psychological state
The way we hold and move our physical selves in
space has a direct affect on our psychological and
emotional states as well as on our patterns of
thinking. Learning additional movement patterns through
the Feldenkrais method or the Alexander Technique
enables greater flexibility of thinking and behaviour.
Conscious access to the posture and movement patterns
which accompany resourceful states allows the
individual to recreate those states at will.
Practical dream
Is a well formed vision represented in all the
senses, placed in an appropriate position in the
individual's future. This type of vision acts to set a
direction and motivate an individual at both a
conscious and unconscious level. To have the vision
work effectively as a Practical Dream, it is essential
to resolve any objections, especially those at the
level of belief or identity.
Primary/Preferred System
The favoured representational system an individual
uses in a particular situation or context. Used to be
thought permanent but is now known to be too fleeting
to label for use.
Present State
In NLP the
present state is a description of the current cognitive
and emotional state of an individual or group of
individuals with reference to an outcome that they have
selected. A Neuro-Linguistic Programmer may assist an
individual or group to take an inventory of their
Present State.
Presuppositions
Anything which is assumed, not stated, and can be
inferred by referring to the source of the
presupposition, be it an utterance, a sentence, a
model, book, etc. For example, in the sentence, 'you
have knocked it over again,' the presupposition is that
you have knocked it over before. Cultural
presuppositions are the unstated shared beliefs and
understandings found in a culture. Personal
presuppositions include beliefs and values which are
important to an individual, although often outside
conscious awareness. A quick way to elicit conscious
awareness of anyone's presuppositions is to expose the
person to a context in which their presuppositions are
not shared by others.
Psychographic Space
The use of the space around an individual or group
of individuals to influence the person/s placing and
accessing of internal representations. A simple example
is placing words for children to learn to spell, high
up on the class room walls so that visual accessing
takes place. The art of shaping psychographic space can
be more sophisticated than this example.
Psychological homeostasis
Mental stability.
Qualities
Emotional responses to any experience.
Quotes
A verbal communication pattern of giving
suggestions / commands in the form of a quote from a
character within a story. eg. ...and Jane turned to him
and said 'you can make the most of this learning
situation'.
Rapport
The engagement and holding of the unconscious,
willing attention. When individual people or animals,
or groups synchronize their behaviour, whether
deliberately or unconsciously, they are said to be in
rapport. Rapport can be established either by design,
in which case one person matches another's behaviour,
or it can arise spontaneously in response to a person's
interest in the other. In this case the person matches
the other unconsciously, through expressing their
interest.
Reality
That which the individual believes to be so in the
external world. A state in which a person's map is a
close enough approximation to the external world for
the individual's impact on the world to produce
evidence of well formed outcomes.
Reality Check
The act of making external checks periodically to
ensure ecology is in place during internal
processing.
Reductionism
A pattern found within some scientific models of
the world, where everything is 'chunked down' into
smaller elements during analysis.
Reframing
Putting a different frame or perspective on one's
thoughts about a situation or example of behaviour. Eg
The half full/half empty glass. If you want more, it is
half empty; if you have had enough, it is half
full.
Reimprinting
The reorganisation and alteration of primary,
significant core representations from which individuals
derived limiting beliefs, and which act as templates
for behaviour within present contexts.
Requisite Variety
A basic principle of cybernetics which states that
in any system of man or machines, the part of the
system with the greatest range of variability in
behaviour is the controlling element.
Representation
A picture, sound or feeling generated from within
to represent a concept, or a historical or future
event.
Representational Systems
The internal use of the senses for thinking; we can
represent the world in mental images, internal sounds
and feelings.
Resource
A piece of knowledge, an understanding about the
world, a belief, a behaviour, a skill, a person or an
object, which contributes to the achievement of an
outcome.
Resourceful State
A psychological state that presupposes adequate
information, choices, flexibility in behaviour and self
reference in directing oneself in the world.
Ritual
A stylised sequence of activity designed to anchor
and elicit a particular state or series of states in
the participants, with reference to the leader's
beliefs and values. Eg the use of coloured pens, mind
mapping and slow music to elicit optimal learning
states is a ritual expression of the pattern of
learning in all three main representational
systems.
Second Attention
Another name for the Unconscious mind.
Second nature
Any behaviour, capability or belief which has
become automatic in a person's experience and is
performed without conscious attention.
Second Order Change
Any change which takes place at a higher logical
level than the problem state. This allows the change to
affect the system, thereby rendering the erstwhile
problem harmless, irrelevant or useful.
Second Position
The experience of taking a description through
one's senses of another's psychological state,
perception and viewpoint. A second position description
can be obtained by matching the other's breathing,
posture, movements, voice patterns and language
patterns. It is a way of obtaining information of
another's 'model of the world', and is useful as a
precursor to bridging agreements and building
understanding during negotiation. Although a second
position description is by definition the individual's
own representation of another's state, if done with
care, it provides very accurate information about the
other's processes, and can give clues to the subject
matter they are considering.
Sensory Acuity
The ability to make refined distinctions in what
one see hears and feels. During a face to face
communication, practitioners of Neuro-Linguistic
Programming attend to changes or shifts in the other's
skin colour, muscle tone, eye movements, breathing and
posture, and to voice tonal patterns, rhythm and
language used by the other. On the telephone, auditory
information alone is available, and can be sufficient.
This information is used to calibrate the other's
internal state and cognitive processes. It is
considered in the world of NLP that
sensory acuity is a capability that can always be
improved.
Sensory based Description
A description in terms of what one can see, hear
and feel, either in the external world during an
experience, or in the describer's internal
experience.
Sensory Cues
The indicators we have through observation,
listening and touch, of a subjects ongoing experience.
These cues indicate that mental processing is taking
place; they do not identify the content being
processed.
Simulation Programming
Mental rehearsal of a future course of action with
reference to a specific and expected situation, using
internal representational systems to programme in the
desired behaviours, capabilities and perceptual filters
so that you can achieve the desired outcome in that
situation. Also known as 'future pacing'.
State
This refers to the overall emotional physiological
and psychological condition of an individual. It
involves the beliefs, values, capabilities and
behaviour within a context at a particular time. The
concept of state can also be applied to a family,
corporation or any social system.
State Choice
In the NLP model
referred to as state control. The act of choosing
deliberately to construct and inhabit a particular
state in a given context, with the intention of
achieving one's chosen outcome in that context.
Strategy
Any sequence of representations that leads to an
outcome. The sequence and organization of
representations (visual, auditory, kinaesthetic,
olfactory and gustatory) which together comprise a
thinking pattern. An effective strategy includes a
representation of an outcome, employs feedback from the
environment, and takes the minimum number of steps in a
choreographed sequence to achieve the particular
outcome of the strategy. Example of strategies explored
in NLP include
decision making, motivation, convincer, reality,
learning and creativity strategies.
Submodalities
The sensory components within each of the
modalities of the senses. Eg the sensory modality of
visualisation is made up of components such as
brightness, colour, hue, size and whether the image is
framed of unframed etc. The auditory sensory modality
has components such as stereo or mono, loudness, tempo
and timbre quality etc.
Systemic thinking
Thinking in terms of pattern recognition, recursive
manifestation of patterns, relationship between parts
of a system, relationship between systems, patterns at
similar and different logical levels, and patterns
between logical levels.
Synaesthesia
When a signal is received or represented in one
sense and is re- represented immediately in another
representational system. The experience of
sight/feeling, hearing/feeling etc. The test for a
synaesthesia is to remove the first representation. If
the second representation disapears at the sames time
as the first represenation is removed, it is a
synaesthesia.
Third Order Change
Any change in which the intervention is made two
logical levels above that of the problem state. If
first order is designed to be remedial, and second
order generative, then third order is
evolutionary.
Third Position
This is an example of a meta position. Third
specifically is the observer of the relationship dance
between the same person in first position, and the
other, with whom they are interacting. Third is
sometimes described as the observer, or director
position. It watches, it has opinions about something
which is occurring.
Through Time
A state in which the passage of time is perceived
as being outside an individual, where they can see the
past, present and future simultaneously. This is very
good for planning, and activity which is enhanced by a
dissociated state. This is the perception of the fixed
duration appointment, and concepts of lateness, on
time, lunch hours etc. Most western business uses a
through time system.
Timelines
The internal subjective organization of individual
perceptions of the passage of time. A timeline is the
representation, usually by location in chronological
order, of events from the past and projections of the
future as images, sounds and feelings.
Time Orientation
Past, Present and Future: Individual preference for
referencing one's perception of time. The past oriented
person refers to history, enjoys nostalgia and relies
on precedent to provide them with standards. Change has
to be tried and tested before they will accept it. The
present oriented person lives in the moment, likes
instant gratification and does not make long term
plans. The future oriented person plans, works and
lives for the future, sometimes at the expense of
ongoing experience. A combination of all three allows
people to benefit from past experience, act in the
present and plan for the future. They are also able to
derive the most benefit from activities which relate to
any one of the three orientations, eg a lawyer, who
sails and invests in property.
Trance
Any state alteration from a pre-calibrated baseline
state. Commonly used to refer to states induced by
someone using hypnotic techniques, whether self or
other.
Triple Description
Three different approaches to a single concept,
preferably covering all three main representational
systems, or three major perceptual positions. For
modelling purposes, one can obtain a triple description
by modelling three different experts in a particular
field.
Unconscious mind (other than
conscious mind)
Those parts of one's mental processes currently
outside conscious awareness. Given that the conscious
mind can only hold 7 + or - 2 chunks of information
simultaneously, and the unconscious mind holds the bulk
of one's information, the unconscious mind is worth
cultivating.
Universal Quantifiers
Words denoting totality of quantity, eg all, every,
none.
Unspecified Verbs
Verbs which apply to generic activity;?|mp
Up-time State
In NLP a state
where your attention is directed outward through your
external senses with minimum attention to inner
subjective experience. Often it includes long distance
and peripheral vision, an absence of internal dialogue,
and optimal physiological posture and movement. An 'up
time' state is particularly useful for activities
requiring constant input of high quality information,
such as presenting to groups.
Values
Those tenets upon which an individual's life is
founded, made up of beliefs and ideals arising from the
person's culture and family of origin, combined with
their understanding of their own life experience.
Normally classified in a hierarchy of importance. Eg
stealing may be unacceptable normally, but with no
money, and hungry dependents, one might steal for food
and remain true to one's values.
Vestibular System
Originates from the Latin word vestibule, which
means to contain or hold. The vestibular system is the
sensory apparatus we use to orient our bodies in space,
and to detect whole body movement. Its physical
location is the semi-circular canals in the ear, and
the whole nervous system. As a representation system,
the vestibular system is involved in the integration of
information in the other representational systems,
synaesthesia patterns, and the ability to dissociate
and associate. Use of the adjectives and verbs which
predicate the vestibular system produces rapid
induction of trance states in many subjects.
Vision
A representation of your desired future
incorporating your most compelling submodalities. It
can be literal or metaphorical. Can also refer to an
internal visual representation that the seer believes
is likely to happen either to themselves or to
others.
Visual
Pertaining to sight or the act of seeing.
Visualisation
The recall or construction in the visual modality
of a picture, movie or visible scene. Refers to
internal pictorial representation.
Well-formedness
Conditions
Those conditions which, when met provide for a
strategy to be workable and ecological for its owner or
those conditions which when met ensure that an outcome
is well formed.
Well formed Outcome
An outcome that is stated in positive terms, has
defined resources, is under the individuals control and
respects positive by-products of the present state. see
Present State.
