Neuro–Linguistic Programming: Volume I. The Study of the Structure of Subjective Experience

1

For the physicist, the question of whether the tree which falls in the forest, makes a sound even when there is no one to hear it, has the same force as how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.

2

Even the format specified by journals etc. as appropriate for reporting scientific generalization demands this. The syntactic device of a passive construction is stated as the most highly valued —expressions such as:

"the animals were sacrificed …"

"the results were obtained …"

where the writer has deleted the subject/actor/agent.

3

Behaviorism in psychology was the reflex of Logical Positivism which spawned a number of improbable systems in various disciplines.

4

3. The term participant organisms is intended to indicate one of the primary distinctions between NLP and traditional behavioral science. In traditional science, generalizations which omit reference to the observer (objective description) are highly valued. In NLP a generalization or pattern must include the user/observer position and action.

5

Strictly speaking, there are two possibilities—the models are stored:

a) Extra–somatically—written form, pictures, engravings… .

b) Somatically—as discussed in the text. Some fascinating implications of the method of storage are drawn in Delozier (1978).

6

The term evolution is not intended here to indicate a linear progression such that each succeeding model encapsulates the contents of the previous one. We intend evolution in the sense developed by Kuhn (1970)—each succeeding model represents the orientation and values of the culture in which it is embedded.

7

In the actual experience of learning a language, its syntax is understood to include more than simply formal grammatical rules, particularly in spoken language where rhythm, tone, inflection, rate of delivery, volume shifts, etc. contribute to the meaning–making process. Slang, vernacular, regional dialects and the specialized languages of various professions and trades constitute special mini–languages within the domain of the primary language.

8

The concept of representational systems and various methods of utilization have been discussed at length in other of our works. Specifically, The Structure of Magic Volume II, Patterns of the Hypnotic Techniques of Milton H. Erickson M.D. Volumes I & II, and Changing with Families Volume I.

9

4. The representational system that most often performs the function of representing the incongruence between two other representations during a test is sometimes distinguished as the "reference system" or "check system" in NLP.

10

5. We have observed that incongruencies experienced as a result of this kind of testing are often felt in the midline areas of the individual's stomach and chest. If indeed these tests do take place between the two cerebral hemispheres, it would make intuitive sense that any incongruencies would be experienced in the midline area, the area which contains the maximum overlap of nerve endings coming from the separate hemispheres.

11

6. In other words the children are given a task — "Learn these ten words for the spelling test on Friday" — without being taught specific techniques to accomplish that task. Regardless of this, the "corrected" tests are returned on Monday with the usual attendant rewards and punishments for success and failure.

12

7. The process of tuning one's body to help access or adjust a particular representational system to the appropriate degree is called "calibration" in NLP.

13

8. We are here ignoring the input channel/representational system distinction. This distinction is non–trivial — consider the power of synesthesia patterns between input and representational systems (e.g., see/feel and hear/feel, such as those discussed in The Structure of Magic, Vol. II, parts II and III).

14

9. Obviously, each representational system has its own threshold independently of the others. For illustration purposes we have combined and represented them as a single threshold.

15

These sensory–grounded indicators or behavioral signals are potentially available to the sensory experience of all members of the human species, but we have found that most individuals require a certain amount of training and practice before they become adept at it.

16

The neural set of pathways carrying olfactory information is the only set of pathways of the five senses which does not pass through the thalamus (considered to be one of the "decision centers" by psychophysiologists) en route to the cerebral cortex.

17

It should be pointed out that hemispheric brain research to date has not incorporated the representational system model presented in this book. We suspect that many of the attributes ascribed to the different hemispheres may also be attributed to representational systems. Many of the conclusions of this research should be re–evaluated from the perspective of the NLP model.

18

Digital representations may occur in any of the three major representational systems. The written symbols you are reading now are examples of visual digital (V_d) representations. Braille constitutes kinesthetic digital (K_d ) representations.

19

Many of the visceral, emotional and proprioceptive body sensations are mediated primarily by lower and evolutionary older brain structures like the lymbic system, and have no projection to the cerebral cortex.

20

We can show the distinctions we have presented as a set of hierarchic tree structures, beginning at the top with the most basic classifications:

21

One of the authors of this book, Robert Dilts, has conducted research involving EEG and representational systems. Specifically, he examined the correlations between the primary, or most highly valued, representational system and the baseline EEG patterns of the individual, with their eyes alternately opened and closed. Although the research has primarily involved two pilot studies, and the methodology still needs improvement, it has shown a startling relationship between the most highly valued representational system and baseline EEG patterns.

Baseline EEG description: Low amplitude beta (over 16 Hz) activity when subject's eyes are open and subject is at rest. Spindles of alpha waves (8–12 Hz) appear when the subject closes his or her eyes.

Primary representational system: Visual.

Baseline EEG description: High amplitude beta activity with some intermitant alpha activity whether eyes are open or closed.

Primary representational system: Auditory.

Baseline EEG description: Low amplitude beta whether eyes are open or closed.

Primary representational system: Kinesthetic (tactile–motor)

Baseline EEG description: High amplitude alpha waves, whether the subject's eyes are open or closed.

Primary representational system: Kinesthetic (visceral)

The following are generalizations of these patterns for EEG surface electrodes placed over the occipital (visual) cortex of the subjects:

22

Accessing cues carried out over long periods of time, particularly those involving breathing, posture and muscle tonus, will begin to shape an individual's body. Those who have specialized themselves with respect to representational systems— people who have come to value one representational system over the others for most of their behavior — will remain in particular accessing postures and maintain certain breathing rates and levels of muscle tension. This contributes to the relative atrophy or hypertrophy of certain muscle groups and affects the body's metabolism. We have noticed that certain body types tend to reflect the primary representation system of the individual. These body types seem to be the result of an interaction between the extended use of postural and other anatomical accessing processes and the genetic makeup of the individual.

The patterns we have observed between body types and primary representation systems seem to parallel, in some ways, the work on constitutional psychology proposed by W. H. Sheldon.

a) A thin, tense body (Sheldon's ectomorph) is characteristic of a visually oriented person.

b) An athletic, muscular body (Sheldon's mesomorph) is characteristic of an individual who is more kinesthetically (in the tactile and motor realm) oriented.

c) A full, soft body (Sheldon's endomorph) characterizes a person who is more oriented toward visceral or internal kinesthetics.

d) The body of an auditorily oriented person tends to be in between those identified above, and is more readily identified by the "saxophone" posture described in this section.

23

The exact formulation is given by W.R. Ashby in Introduction to Cybernetics (1956), p. 206 and p. 245. The generalized form offered in the text assumes no element has a structurally dominant position.

24

We have been making plans for some time to organize a project in which the twelve people who are best able to achieve outcomes in each of the major divisions of the sciences and the arts will be modeled for their strategies. This would result in a battery of the most effective strategies for many fields or sectors of organized human behavior.