NLP as a Cult Exit Therapy.

NLP as a Cult Exit Therapy, yes you read that right.

Out of the frying pan into the NLP fire.

The ever audacious NLP Cult has successfully conned some into allowing them access to brainwash and induct victims of other cults. Who could be more vulnerable than those that have already been tricked by other cults?

Read this by Kevin Garvey (voluntary exit counsellor and a consultant on cult related issues) published by the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA).

http://icsahome.com/infoserv_respond/by_author.asp?Subject=NLP+Seen+as+Dangerous


NLP ... encourages misguidance of the emerging victim ... relies upon an innate distrust of the critical intellect ... inhibits the emergence of the critical mental faculties ... duplicates the basic method found in the cults. 

Police Infiltration by the NLP Cult.

It is amazing that some police forces around the world still persist in attempting to use NLP techniques for interrogation and other purposes. Both because it doesn’t work and far more worryingly because it exposes police officers to the potential of being recruited into the cult at “NLP Training” sessions run by cult members.

This excellent article in this month’s PoliceChief Magazine (in the US) debunks the use of NLP in policing.

http://www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_arch&article_id=2268&issue_id=122010

Perspective on Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP)
By Gary I. Wilson, Colonel (Retired), United States Marine Corps, Carlsbad, California

Conclusion

NLP has captured the attention of law enforcement and interrogators regarding its application to detecting deception during interview and interrogation processes. Clearly, there is a lack of evidence-based data to support using NLP for ferreting out deception. Yet employing NLP techniques for detecting deception persists throughout law enforcement communities despite the dearth of supportive evidence. NLP utility for deciphering truth from deception is a myth. Nonetheless, it is still touted for investigative interviewing. Those working in the area of forensics need to be aware of the shortcomings of methods that are not evidence based. It is essential to strive for the use of techniques and methods that are supported by research data—“The only certain method of discerning truth relies on the corroboration of the known facts independent of the information provided by the person interviewed.

Brainwashed NLP Police Force.

Master Practitioner Dares to Criticize the NLP Cult.

This show how zealously the leadership guards against insiders speaking out, a common feature of cults. In this case removing his videos from YouTube for mentioning their names.



 He also some interesting points:

• Those parts of NLP that work are not unique and predate NLP. 
• The unique parts don’t work. 
• To perform therapy you need to be sensitive. (In my experience the NLP cult brainwashing removes the ability to do that.) 

Therapy and the NLP Cult.

Cults generally recruit vulnerable people and the NLP cult is no exception. Part of Bandler's evil genius is to market his cult as a therapy for almost all life’s ills.

Any condition you have NLP claims to have the answer for example http://www.nlp-therapy.co.uk/ claims to treat emotional problems, fears and phobias, stress reduction, weight control and more. Many market it as an addiction cure for smoking, alcohol and drugs, the list of therapeutic claims is endless.

So what does the real scientific community make of NLP’s therapeutic value?

This excellent piece is by Steven Novella, MD. (Yes real letters after his name, a Doctorate in Medicine takes many years of study, examination and evaluation and is not bought at a 6 day seminar).

http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/neurolinguistic-programming-and-other-nonsense/

Dr. Novella is an academic clinical neurologist at Yale University School of Medicine. So what does Dr. Novella think of NLP’s therapeutic claims.

When first proposed there was nothing overtly pseudoscientific about NLP. It was a bit simplistic and naïve, but may have had some merit. But it turns out that the assumptions of NLP, namely that our cognition, behavior and emotions can be “programmed” by mimicking the more superficial aspects of those with desirable attributes (for example posture and mannerism) are wrong. The last thirty years of research have simply shown that NLP is bunk…..

…….. In the case of NLP it has failed every test of both its underlying theories and empirical tests of its efficacy. So, in short, NLP does not make sense and it doesn’t work. In science you don’t get three strikes, those two and you’re out.

Hierarchy of the NLP Cult.

As with most cults the founder is the leader, Richard Bandler fills this position in NLP. A rigorous hierarchy is in place underneath him. NLP Practitioner is the entry level to the cult. To work your way up the ladder you will need to pay thousands for courses and seminars where a certificate will be handed out at the end to confirm your new status in the cult. Junior members look up to their superiors and obey their every command.

Cult members will proudly display their status even on their CV. This often takes the form of many letters after their name.

This post is too funny not to republish in full in case it disappears.

http://www.23nlpeople.com/NLP/scamming_the_public_ltd.php

Scamming The Public

The Cunning Ways of The Hypnotists and NLP Types

Here follows a brief introduction to some of the ways hypnotists and NLPers use to impress the public. For the average member of the public, choosing a therapist is a fairly random process. Therapists know that the public are naive to the regulations and qualifications systems, and so will exploit a number of techniques to impress upon potential clients the following:

1. The level of qualification

2. The authentic lineage/connection to someone famous or influential

3. Official recognition and regulation

4. Level of expertise

Cunning Linguists, a Few Deception Techniques of the NLP Cult.

Whilst researching the NLP Cult a section of this website http://www.johnlenardburnett.com/subjects/nlp.html caught my eye.

This is the passage:


Conflicts within NLP

A second branch of NLP referred to as a cult (NLP2) evolved during the mid 1980s from the growing mass desire for individual self fulfilment and craving for personal wealth, driven from a background of economic rationalism and corporate greed. The film Wall Street about the character Gordon Gekko played by Michael Douglas stated line "Greed is good" typified the era. NLP2 was ideally suited for exploitation especially when marketed to those with personal ambition in the corporate sector who do not have backgrounds in philosophy or psychology and therefore easily led into cult behaviour.

A cult can be described as an organisation of beliefs based on ranking or influence members have over each other. NLP2 awards orders of Practitioner and Master Practitioner in return for loyalty, training and money. The cult belief is that selected knowledge from the original NLP research can be used to manipulate and prosper in personal relationships, management practices, sport motivation and wealth creation.

This view of individualism that the 'self' is an actuality (not an illusion) that can be expanded and transformed into having God like qualities by simply changing ones internal thinking "releasing the power within"" to achieve anything one wishes, including fire-walking and levitating is at the core of division between the original NLP and the latter cult driven NLP.

The cult versions of NLP are marketed as staged evangelistic events with thousands of people led by a charismatic male cult figure wikipedia.org / Tony Robbins (typical within US culture). The rise and monetary success of NLP2 cult movements caused many who were part of the original NLP research to publicly wash their hands of any further association with the NLP name. Unfortunately, much of the original NLP research has been left incomplete.


Let us examine the some of the tricks used to deceive you here.

He uses the term NLP2 to distinguish cult NLP as something different from “real” NLP. This is same trick governments use in naming taxes as anything but tax (London Congestion Charge?).

He then throws in the old NLP “rapport” confidence trick by mentioning the Wall Street movie. This is based on the theory that if you are similar to someone, can find something in common with them, you are more likely to trust them. Everyone must have seen Wall Street (or at least know what it is) so it’s an obvious choice. He goes on with this for a while stating things you will recognise and opinions you probably agree with on the film and late 1980’s culture. (Well if he’s correct about that then everything else he says must be true). Although the rapport theory is in essence true it generally only works if you really are similar, not when the perpetrator is insincere and using it as a ploy to deceive you.

Now you have been buttered up, here comes the final deception, a blatant lie. NLP research has been left incomplete not because NLP transformed into a cult and the originators lost interest but simply because all research that had been carried out debunked it as utter nonsense. After something has been disproven there is no point continuing to spend research dollars disproving it again. Many other NLP websites will use the incorrect "fact" that “no serious research has been done on NLP since the 1970’s” as in some way discrediting the results of that research. Much research has been carried out and all of failed to show any merit to NLP's claims.

Psychological Side Effects of the NLP Cult.

An NLP practitioner had me questioning whether I was a paranoid schizophrenic once. (I’m not I promise). But just what damage can an amateur pseudo psychologist do?

http://www.rickross.com/reference/general/general628.html

NLP is Brainwashing.

“Much more insidious, though, is neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), the use of "language and body clues". Psychologists developed it in the 1970s to change behavior and beliefs. Cults and similar groups now use it to arouse emotions or even as post hypnotic triggers to control behavior.

As well, people are manipulated to reveal secrets about themselves, usually as a sign of "trust" or "honesty", to be used as emotional blackmail - and sometimes much less subtly.

"I have had people coming to see me who are in a real mess after even just going to one weekend seminar ... I have seen suicidal depression, distress within the marriage, alienation from families, loss of employment. I have knowledge of three cases where rebirthing has triggered schizophrenia. There are also strong undertones of racism and sexism."”

Is NLP a Cult?

Brainwash - The NLP Cult Weapon of Choice

NLP is a cult. Members of the NLP cult will always deny the fact, arguing semantics of the definition of a cult.

Members of the NLP cult will point to the lack of a spiritual or religious element as a defence. NLP has simply replaced this with the desire for individual self-fulfilment and craving for personal wealth.

What is a cult? Cults are varied but all share most of the same characteristics, the definitions used here are from the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA). http://www.icsahome.com/

• The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as The Truth.

If you have ever criticised Richard Bandler or his teachings in the presence of a believer you will have experienced the full wrath of the fanatic. All scientific evidence of the falsity of his teachings will dismissed.

• The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations). 

NLP is completely unregulated and its practices free from the scrutiny of medical authorities despite its claims to be a therapeutic remedy to all sorts of psychological conditions.

• The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members. 

Lured in with free seminars potential victims are then persuaded to pay up to become practitioners. The practitioners have been “programmed” to believe the “programme”, giving them the right to “programme” others.

• The group is preoccupied with making money. 

The vast array of seminars, courses and books have made NLP a multi-billion dollar word wide industry.

• Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s). 

Hypnosis and meditation techniques are core to NLP. Members are made to repeat mantras.

• The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society.

Practitioners will say things like “We don’t believe in conventional psychotherapy”. NLP members will dismiss any criticism from the scientific world using hostility to established scientific methods of evaluation.

• The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members (for example, the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity). 

Richard Bandler holds the position of Messiah and a whole structure of titles and ranks underpins him. The NLP hierarchy is rigorous, practitioner, master practitioner, trainer, master trainer, and beyond. 

• The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members' participating in behaviours or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (for example, lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities). 

NLP teachings include how to manipulate people through “linguistic” techniques, more commonly known as lying. Many are lured in through “Get Rich” books and soon abandon all morals to achieve their wealth.

• Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group. 

NLP members soon cut off ties with family and friends, “The past is past, move on” is one mantra used. Memory altering techniques are used to simply forget the past.