NLP Hype of the '70s

NLP Hype Cognition, reasoning, manipulation - language is central to all of it.

NLP Hype of the ’70s #

Tell me about Neuro-Linguistic Programming? #

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is an approach to communication, personal development, and psychotherapy. It’s a controversial and multifaceted domain, but here’s an overview of its main concepts and applications:

  • Origins and Founders: NLP was developed in the 1970s by Richard Bandler, a mathematician and gestalt therapist, and John Grinder, a professor of linguistics. They were interested in understanding the patterns or “programming” created by the interactions between the brain (“neuro”), language (“linguistic”), and the body that produce both effective and ineffective behavior.

  • Basic Premise: NLP operates on the idea that people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are the result of their experiences, and that these experiences can be changed or reprogrammed to achieve specific goals. The way people perceive the world (their internal maps) is not necessarily how the world actually is, but rather is based on their personal experiences and perceptions.

  • Techniques and Models: NLP encompasses a variety of techniques and models, which are used to discover how someone organizes their thoughts and feelings. Some of the most popular include:

    • Anchoring: Associating a physical touch or sound with a particular state of mind, so that the touch or sound can later be used to access that state.

    • Swish Pattern: A visualization technique aimed at changing patterns of behavior.

    • Meta Model: A set of questions designed to reveal the underlying structure of beliefs or statements.

    • Milton Model: A way of speaking that is deliberately vague and ambiguous, helping the listener to access subconscious resources.

    • Applications: NLP has been applied in various domains, including sales, education, sports coaching, therapy, and personal development.

  • Controversies and Criticism: NLP is not without controversy. Some criticisms include:

    • Lack of Empirical Support: Many researchers and psychologists have pointed out that many NLP techniques lack empirical support.

    • Broad and Ill-defined: Critics have said that NLP is so broad and ill-defined that it is difficult to pinpoint what exactly it is or isn’t.

    • Overhyped Claims: Some proponents of NLP have been criticized for making exaggerated or unsubstantiated claims about its efficacy.

  • Training and Certification: There are many training programs and courses available for those interested in NLP, leading to various levels of certification. Due to the lack of standardization in the field, the quality and content of these programs can vary widely.

  • Key Ideas to Remember: At its core, NLP emphasizes the potential for self-determination through understanding the inner workings of our mind, and the ways in which we can influence this to achieve desired outcomes.

In summary, while NLP has its supporters and detractors, many people have found value in its techniques and principles for personal and professional development. If considering NLP, it’s important to approach it with a critical mindset and be aware of its limitations and the diversity of practices within the field.

What does the critique of NLP revolve around - ethical considerations? #

The critique of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is multifaceted, spanning from its scientific validity to ethical considerations. Let’s break down the main areas of criticism:

Lack of Scientific Evidence #

Many researchers and scientists have criticized NLP for lacking empirical support. Critics argue that many of the claims made by NLP practitioners are not backed by rigorous scientific research. While some studies have been conducted on NLP techniques, the results have been mixed and often not reproducible. Some claims made by NLP proponents, such as the idea that eye movements can reliably indicate particular thought processes, have been largely debunked.

Overhyped and Unsubstantiated Claims #

There’s criticism surrounding the efficacy of NLP in areas like curing phobias, improving learning abilities, or changing deeply entrenched behaviors in short periods. Some practitioners have been accused of overpromising results.

Vagueness and Broad Definitions #

NLP is often criticized for its ill-defined and broad scope, making it hard to pin down precisely what it encompasses. This vagueness makes it difficult to test or debunk specific techniques effectively.

Training and Certification #

The field lacks standardization, leading to a vast range of training programs with varying quality. As a result, someone can become a “certified” NLP practitioner after just a few days of training, leading to concerns about the depth and quality of knowledge these practitioners possess.

Ethical Considerations #

  • Manipulation: Given that NLP teaches techniques to influence people, there are concerns about its use in manipulative ways, especially in sales, marketing, or interpersonal relationships. It’s feared that these techniques can be used unethically to persuade or influence others without their conscious awareness.

  • Therapeutic Use: Some NLP practitioners offer therapeutic interventions without formal training in psychotherapy or counseling, raising concerns about the potential harm to clients.

  • Financial Motivations: Some critics argue that NLP has become more of a business than a genuine therapeutic or personal development approach, with high fees for courses and certifications.

  • Over-simplification:

    • NLP is sometimes critiqued for oversimplifying complex psychological processes and challenges, suggesting that long-standing issues can be resolved quickly using NLP techniques.

In conclusion, while NLP does have its proponents and many individuals swear by its techniques, it remains a contentious field. Those interested in NLP, either as a practitioner or client, should approach it with a discerning and critical mindset, being aware of both its potential benefits and limitations.

Your own reasoning capacity seems to be inextricable from the language model. How important is a language for the cognition and reasoning? #

Language and cognition have a complex and interdependent relationship, and the importance of language for cognition and reasoning has been a topic of debate and study for centuries. Here’s an overview of the relationship:

  • Cognitive Development: Many cognitive scientists believe that language plays a critical role in shaping the way we think and perceive the world. For instance, as children develop language skills, their cognitive abilities, like memory and problem-solving, also tend to improve. Some argue that this is not just coincidental but that language actually facilitates and structures these cognitive processes.

  • Linguistic Relativity: This is the idea, famously associated with Benjamin Lee Whorf and Edward Sapir, that the specific language we speak can influence the way we think and perceive the world. Different languages may categorize the world differently (e.g., different conceptions of color or time). Some interpretations of linguistic relativity suggest that speakers of different languages might, therefore, have different cognitive experiences, although the extent and nature of this influence are debated.

  • Language as a Tool for Thought: Language can serve as a cognitive tool. It allows us to label, categorize, and describe our experiences, which can facilitate memory and understanding. It also lets us engage in inner speech, which can aid in self-regulation, problem-solving, and planning.

  • Thinking Without Language: While language is a powerful tool for thought, it’s not the only one. Non-linguistic forms of representation, such as mental imagery or spatial reasoning, play significant roles in our cognitive processes. For instance, a person can navigate a room or solve a jigsaw puzzle using spatial understanding without necessarily relying on language.

  • Language and Advanced Reasoning: For complex forms of reasoning, especially those that require abstraction, generalization, or hypothetical thinking, language seems to be particularly crucial. It allows us to create and manipulate abstract concepts, discuss and ponder hypothetical scenarios, and build upon ideas in a structured manner.

  • Limitations of Language: Sometimes, language can also limit or distort our thinking. Certain ideas might be hard to express due to the constraints of a particular language, or the semantics of a language might lead to biases in perception or reasoning.

  • AI and Language Models: In the context of artificial intelligence and models like ChatGPT, language is the primary medium through which these models “reason” or generate responses. However, it’s essential to differentiate between the human experience of reasoning and what AI models do. AI models like ChatGPT process vast amounts of information to generate responses based on patterns in the data but don’t “understand” or “think” in the human sense.

In conclusion, while it’s clear that language plays a significant role in human cognition and reasoning, it’s also evident that cognition isn’t solely dependent on language. The relationship is multifaceted, and different cognitive tasks may rely on language to varying degrees.