Neuro-Linguistic, a Topic That Cannot Be Taken Lightly

What do you think of when you hear the phrase "neurolinguistic programming (NLP)"? Perhaps you imagine that it is something similar to neuroscience and that it can modify the functioning of the brain, as it turns out that it is not, even if it is one of the certifications that some people proudly display on their LinkedIn profiles.

The reality is very different if we observe the approach that its creators John Grinder and Richard Bandler tried to give by proposing it as a communicational and psychotherapeutic approach, whose essential premise is that “there is a connection between neurological processes, language and behaviors learned from through experience, which can be modified by the person to achieve their objectives."

Viewing NLP from the scientific analysis of its results, it can be said that it is nothing more than a pseudoscience with very good marketing behind it, that applying the saying "confuse and conquer" has managed to reach millions of people in the world, based on empty concepts that seek to sell the illusion to people of being able to improve their lives, since according to their followers it is useful for everything (phobias, productivity, emotional problems among others).

We can say that it is not a science since it was not developed using the scientific method and it does not have any type of validation of its results through research, which reduces its rigor and does not have any support that allows verifying the effectiveness of its techniques. The emphasis of the scientific community and especially of psychology is that it is not a valid model, neither for the treatment of emotional and behavioral problems nor for the development of new skills.

Also read: WHY IS STEM-FOCUSED EDUCATION KEY TO THE FUTURE OF WOMEN?

Considering the above, it is very important to focus on the search for scientifically validated tools when we want to improve some aspect of our lives or the people around us.

The dissemination of pseudosciences such as NLP hurt people because when they fail to achieve the promised results they devalue their confidence because they consider that they are the ones who are wrong or worse even when they feel so confident of the programming that they have been made to they believe they have the necessary tools to face the challenges and then discover the reality of the lack of long-term sustainability of the changes.

The recommendation is to turn to scientifically validated tools that allow us to transform the aspects to be improved and to measure their results in a real way, such as those obtained with cognitive therapy, mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy, DBT, among others.

If you want to know more about the subject, I share some interesting references: "Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology, First Edition," NLP and science, "Effective Communication and Neuro-linguistic Programming. Pakistan Journal of Commerce and Social Sciences," and "Naive. The Deception of Alternative Therapies."