Going from Physics to Psychology

As a young physicist, discovering NLP was transformative. My years spent analyzing mathematical structures in physics shifted dramatically when I attended my first NLP seminar, where I learned about the study of experience's structure. This reminded me of my high school fascination with Freud's exploration of dream structures, which had initially inspired my interest in psychology over physics.

Despite being a physics major, my educational journey wasn't without challenges. During my initial year in graduate school, I encountered a significant hurdle: the local draft board. To pursue my PhD in physics, I was required to serve as a medic in Vietnam. The aftermath of this experience profoundly influenced my life, leading me to retreat into academia for six years, during which I published five papers before earning my PhD in 1977. Though I wasn't reliving traumatic events, I grappled with the psychological effects of my service.

A pivotal moment came in 1980 when I participated in Lifespring trainings, a personal growth organization that encouraged participants to take charge of their lives. While some viewed Lifespring as a cult, I perceived it as a catalyst for change, prompting me to rekindle my interest in psychology.

In 1982, I embarked on multiple NLP trainings and established a monthly NLP study group a year later. This group remained active for 25 years, focusing on practical applications of NLP techniques that yielded tangible benefits in personal development and trauma management.

My first encounter with the skepticism surrounding NLP occurred in 1988 when Psychology Today published an article claiming that NLP "crumbled under scientific scrutiny." This was in response to a National Research Council (NRC) study that questioned NLP's effectiveness in enhancing human performance. The NRC's findings suggested that NLP failed to demonstrate reliable influence strategies and rested on flawed assumptions.

At that time, I was part of the National Association of NLP (NANLP) research committee and co-authored a response to the NRC report titled "NLP on Trial" (Anchor Point, 1991). We argued that the NRC's conclusions stemmed from a limited understanding of NLP, acknowledging that the community needed standardized research protocols.

Reactions to NLP Critics

The NLP community's responses to its critics have been diverse, ranging from introspective to innovative.

Section 1.1: Managing Traumatic Memories

How can we assist individuals in managing traumatic memories? Trauma often strikes unexpectedly, as illustrated by a personal anecdote involving my brother John on September 11, 2001.

John found himself on a bus navigating the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel when chaos erupted. As smoke filled the tunnel, he disembarked and ran toward Brooklyn, fearing the possibility of flooding. Amid the panic, he recognized a neighbor in distress, unable to contact her family. Together, they sought refuge at a nearby fire station.

In this context, NLP techniques have demonstrated their effectiveness. Frank Bourke utilized an NLP-based therapy known as the Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories (RTM) protocol to assist 9/11 survivors, while Pucelik has applied RTM to treat veterans experiencing PTSD.

The efficacy of RTM was highlighted in a March 2024 CNN interview with Bourke, wherein RTM was described as an emerging, drug-free treatment for PTSD.

The foundation of RTM lies in the NLP Movie-Rewind pattern. To illustrate this, I will share a non-traumatic experience from my time in Vietnam. A fellow soldier, Eric, was displeased with my rapid promotion within the ranks. One day, while intoxicated, he confronted me with threats. Although I remained calm, the encounter left a lasting impression.

Using the movie-rewind pattern, I was able to revisit this experience without reliving the accompanying fear. Initially, I observed the incident as if watching a black-and-white film, guided by a coach. I then removed the intense negative emotions associated with the memory, transforming Eric into a harmless caricature rather than a source of anxiety.

In a 2010 paper, Richard Gray elaborated on how the NLP Movie-Rewind pattern addresses PTSD, noting that while RTM builds on this concept, it has evolved into a more comprehensive approach. The recent grant awarded to King's College London by the Forces in Mind Trust aims to further investigate the efficacy of NLP-based therapies for PTSD.

The psychology community often insists that NLP must undergo rigorous testing and validation. However, referencing NLP in grant applications can hinder funding opportunities. This raises the question: how can researchers prove NLP's viability if they cannot secure grants to study it?

To circumvent this challenge, RTM researchers have strategically omitted references to NLP in some of their research papers and grant proposals. Their success in applying RTM to veterans and war-affected individuals has bolstered its reputation as a legitimate treatment option.

Section 1.2: Dynamics within NLP and Psychology

NLP researchers are actively conducting scientific studies; however, the presence of self-proclaimed practitioners propagating pseudoscience tarnishes the field's reputation. Critics often make unfounded claims about NLP, using terms like "charlatanry" in their critiques.

The skepticism of the psychological community towards NLP is understandable, yet it raises questions about fairness. Dormandy and Grimley's paper, "Gatekeeping in Science: Lessons from Psychology and NLP (2024)," provides a balanced analysis of this dynamic.

The NLP Community's Attitude toward Science

Dormandy and Grimley categorize the NLP community into three distinct groups based on their attitudes toward scientific inquiry:

1. Science-Minded NLPers: These individuals actively engage in research and advocate for scientific investigation within NLP. Notable studies include RTM and Phil Parker's Lighting Process, which has successfully addressed chronic fatigue in young cancer survivors.
2. Ascientific NLPers: Practitioners in this category effectively employ NLP techniques with clients but show little interest in formal research or publication. While they have contributed to the field, they echo the concerns raised in the 1988 NRC report.
3. NLP-Bullshitters: This group promotes pseudoscience or makes fraudulent claims, often absent from reputable forums like the NLP Leadership Summit. Their presence complicates the perception of NLP.

Dormandy and Grimley conclude that while pseudoscience accusations are valid for NLP bullshitters, they do not apply to ascientific NLPers or science-minded practitioners.

The Psychology Community's Perception of NLP

Is it possible to determine if someone is lying by observing their eye movements? While NLP posits certain eye movements as indicators of deception, Wiseman's research disproves this correlation. His findings were partly in response to NLP practitioners who propagated these claims without proper evidence.

Though I concur with Wiseman's conclusions, it is worth noting that NLP does not assert that eye movements can indicate lying. The misrepresentation of NLP concepts has contributed to its negative reputation, as evidenced by the number of studies and articles that cite Wiseman's work, including Greif's critiques.

Dormandy and Grimley's analysis highlights the ongoing issue of "straw-manning" within the psychological community. They argue that the misunderstanding of NLP's theories and concepts perpetuates skepticism.

The Future of NLP: A Promising Outlook

Wikipedia and other gatekeepers in the psychological community often dismiss NLP as pseudo-science. Critics tend to focus on outdated models, neglecting the field's significant advancements over the years. For example, Bobby Bodenhamer's groundbreaking work has helped countless individuals overcome stuttering.

The Theta Research Institute even offers prizes for applied research that successfully addresses speech anxiety and stuttering, with Bodenhamer receiving the 2022 J.R. Lunan Fluency Freedom Award for his contributions.

I share Dormandy and Grimley's optimistic view of NLP: despite the challenges posed by pseudoscientific claims, there is substantial reason to consider NLP as a proto-science with great potential for behavioral change. This recognition highlights the need for further empirical and theoretical research while acknowledging NLP's promise.

As the conversation around NLP evolves, perhaps someone will eventually update the Wikipedia entry to reflect its advancements and contributions. Wikipedia guidelines emphasize the importance of presenting content objectively, underscoring the need for fair representation of all perspectives.