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Neuro-Linguistic Programming

Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) uses language and behavioral techniques to change thoughts and behaviors with the goal of improving outcomes. It was developed in the 1970s but there is little empirical evidence that supports its underlying theories or effectiveness. While some studies have found benefits of NLP, reviews find little evidence that NLP is effective for treating health conditions and the theories lack credible evidence-based support after decades. The popularity of NLP may be due to versatile applications and marketing rather than demonstrated effectiveness through rigorous research.

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Kahina Azzi
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25 views4 pages

Neuro-Linguistic Programming

Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) uses language and behavioral techniques to change thoughts and behaviors with the goal of improving outcomes. It was developed in the 1970s but there is little empirical evidence that supports its underlying theories or effectiveness. While some studies have found benefits of NLP, reviews find little evidence that NLP is effective for treating health conditions and the theories lack credible evidence-based support after decades. The popularity of NLP may be due to versatile applications and marketing rather than demonstrated effectiveness through rigorous research.

Uploaded by

Kahina Azzi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Neuro-linguistic programming

Neuro-linguistic programming (NPL) is a way of changing someone's thoughts and behaviors


to help achieve desired outcomes for them. It may reduce anxiety and improve overall
wellbeing. The popularity of neuro-linguistic programming or NLP has become widespread
since it started in the 1970s. Its uses include treatment of phobias and anxiety disorders and
improvement of workplace performance or personal happiness.

This article will explore the theory behind NLP and what evidence there is supporting its
practice.

Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD- By Aaron Kandola- Updated on


February 8, 2023.(Journal Medical News Today).

What is NLP and what is it used for?

Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD — By Aaron Kandola — Updated on


February 8, 2023.

NLP uses perceptual, behavioral, and communication techniques to make it easier for people
to change their thoughts and actions.

NLP relies on language processing but should not be confused with natural language
processing, which shares the same abbreviation.

NLP was developed by Richard Bandler and John Grinder, who believed it was possible
to identify the patterns of thoughts and behaviors of successful individuals and to teach
them to others.

Despite a lack of empirical evidence to support it, Bandler and Grinder published two
books, The Structure of Magic I and II, and NLP took off. Its popularity was partly due
to its versatility in addressing the many diverse issues that people face.

How does it work?

The varying interpretations of NLP make it hard to define. It is founded on the idea that
people operate by internal “maps” of the world that they learn through sensory
experiences. NLP tries to detect and modify unconscious biases or limitations of an
individual’s map of the world. NLP is not hypnotherapy (the use of hypnosis as a
therapeutic technique). Instead, it operates through the conscious use of language to
bring about changes in someone’s thoughts and behavior.

For example, a central feature of NLP is the idea that a person is biased towards one
sensory system, known as the preferred representational system or PRS.

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Therapists can detect this preference through language. Phrases such as “I see your point”
may signal a visual PRS. Or “I hear your point” may signal an auditory PRS.

An NLP practitioner will identify a person’s PRS and base their therapeutic framework
around it. The framework could involve rapport-building, information-gathering, and goal-
setting with them.

Techniques

NLP is a broad field of practice. As such, NLP practitioners use many different techniques
that include the following:

 Anchoring: Turning sensory experiences into triggers for certain emotional states.

 Rapport: The practitioner tunes into the person by matching their physical behaviors
to improve communication and response through empathy.

 Switch pattern: Changing patterns of behavior or thought to come to a desired instead


of an undesired outcome.

 Visual/kinesthetic dissociation (VKD): Trying to remove negative thoughts and


feelings associated with a past event.

Examples

NLP is used as a method of personal development through promoting skills, such as self-
reflection, confidence, and communication.

Practitioners have applied NLP commercially to achieve work-orientated goals, such as


improved productivity or job progression.

More widely, it has been applied as a therapy for psychological disorders, including phobias,
depression, generalized anxiety disorders or GAD, and post-traumatic stress disorder or
PTSD.

Does NLP work? So far, there has not been any rigorous research to prove the
effectiveness of NLP.

One of the techniques of NLP is to attempt to remove negative thoughts and feelings
linked to a past event.

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Determining the effectiveness of NLP is challenging for several reasons.

NLP has not been subject to the same standard of scientific rigor as more established
therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT.

The lack of formal regulation and NLP’s commercial value mean that claims of its
effectiveness can be anecdotal or supplied by an NLP provider. NLP providers will have a
financial interest in the success of NLP, so their evidence is difficult to use.

Furthermore, scientific research on NLP has produced mixed results.

Some studies have found benefits associated with NLP. For example, a study Trusted
Source published in the journal Counselling and Psychotherapy Research found
psychotherapy patients had improved psychological symptoms and life quality after having
NLP compared to a control group.

However, a review Trusted Source published in The British Journal of General Practice of 10
available studies on NLP was less favorable.

It concluded there was little evidence for the effectiveness of NLP in treating health-
related conditions, including anxiety disorders, weight management, and substance
misuse. This was due to the limited amount and quality of the research studies that were
available, rather than evidence that showed NLP did not work.

In 2014, a reportTrusted Source by the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health
found no clinical evidence for the effectiveness of NLP in the treatment of PTSD, GAD, or
depression.

However, a further research reviewTrusted Source published in 2015 did find NLP
therapy to have a positive impact on individuals with social or psychological problems,
although the authors said more investigation was needed.

The theoretical basis for NLP has also attracted criticism for lacking evidence-based
support.

A paper published in 2009 concluded that after three decades, the theories behind NLP
were still not credible, and evidence for its effectiveness was only anecdotal.

A 2010 review paper sought to assess the research findings relating to the theories behind
NLP. Of the 33 included studies, only 18 percent were found to support NLP’s underlying
theories.

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So, despite more than 4 decades of its existence, neither the effectiveness of NLP or the
validity of the theories have been clearly demonstrated by solid research.

Also, it is worth noting, that research has mainly been conducted in therapeutic settings, with
few studies into the effectiveness of NLP in commercial environments.

Studying how well NLP works has several practical issues as well, adding to the lack of
clarity surrounding the subject. For example, it is difficult to directly compare studies given
the range of different methods, techniques, and outcomes.

NLP has become very popular over the years. This popularity may have been driven by
the fact that practitioners can use it in many different fields and contexts.

However, the broad ideas that NLP is built upon, and the lack of a formal body to monitor its
use, mean that the methods and quality of practice can vary considerably. In any case, clear
and impartial evidence to support its effectiveness has yet to emerge.

For these reasons, it is possible that good marketing has also contributed to the
widespread popularity of NLP, particularly in the commercial sector.

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