NLP Glossary

NLP Jargons

Accessing Cues +

External signs that give us information about what we do inside. These include breathing, gestures, posture, and eye patterns.

‘As-If’ Frame +

This is “acting as if” something were true. For example, pretending you are competent at something you are not. The idea is that the pretense will increase your capability.

Analogue +

Analogue distinctions have continuous variations, as opposed to Digital distinctions that have distinct variations.

Anchoring +

The NLP technique whereby a stimulus is linked to a response. An anchor can be intentional or naturally occurring.

Associated +

Being fully in touch with an experience, seeing through your own eyes, hearing with your own ears, and feeling the associated sensations.

Auditory +

Relating to the sense of hearing.

Backtrack +

To go back and summarize or review what was previously covered, as in a meeting or conversation.

Behavior +

Any external, observable activity we engage in.

Beliefs +

Generalizations we make about the world and our opinions about it.

Calibration +

The process of observing changes in another person’s behavior to identify their emotional state.

Chunking +

Moving up or down logical levels in thinking. Chunking up is generalizing, while chunking down is specifying.

Complex Equivalence +

This occurs when two statements are considered to mean the same thing, e.g., “She doesn’t look at me, so she must dislike me.”

Congruence +

When a person’s behavior matches their words and intentions.

Conscious +

That which we are aware of at any given moment.

Contrastive Analysis +

A SubModality process of analyzing two sets of SubModalities to discover the drivers, or key differences, between them.

Content Reframe +

Giving another meaning to a statement by recovering more content, which changes the focus or perspective of the statement.

Context Reframing +

Giving another meaning to a statement by changing the context. For example, asking “In what situation would this behavior be more appropriate?”

Criteria +

The NLP word for values—what is important to you. These criteria often drive behavior and decision-making.

Crossover Mirroring +

Matching a person’s external behavior with a different movement, e.g., moving your finger to match the client’s breathing.

Deep Structure +

The unconscious basis for the surface structure of a statement. Much of the deep structure is out of awareness.

Deletion +

One of the three major processes (including distortion and generalization) on which the Meta Model is based. Deletion occurs when we leave out a portion of our experience.

Digital +

Digital distinctions have distinct variations of meaning, as in a digital watch or an “on/off” switch.

Dissociated +

It deals with your relationship to an experience. For example, in a memory, you are dissociated when you are not looking through your own eyes and see yourself in the picture.

NLP Jargons (Part 2)

Distortion +

One of the three major processes (including deletion and generalization) on which the Meta Model is based. Distortion occurs when something is mistaken for something it is not.

Downtime +

Downtime occurs whenever we go inside our own mind for reflection, visualization, or recalling information.

Drivers +

In SubModalities, drivers are the key distinctions that make the difference. They are identified through contrastive analysis and are pivotal in altering perceptions.

Ecology +

In NLP, ecology refers to the study of consequences and ensuring changes are beneficial to the individual and their environment.

Elicitation +

Inducing a state or gathering information by asking questions or observing behavior to understand internal processes.

Eye Accessing Cues +

Movements of the eyes in certain directions that indicate visual, auditory, or kinesthetic thinking patterns.

Epistemology +

The study of knowledge and understanding how we know what we know.

First Position +

One of the perceptual positions. First Position involves seeing the world through your own perspective, being associated with your own experiences.

Frame +

A frame sets a context or way to interpret a situation, such as the Outcome Frame or As-If Frame.

Future Pace +

Mentally rehearsing a future scenario to install strategies and ensure desired outcomes occur when needed.

Generalization +

One of the three major processes in the Meta Model. Generalization occurs when one specific experience represents a whole category of experiences.

Gustatory +

Relating to the sense of taste.

Incongruence +

When a person’s behavior does not match their words, leading to a lack of alignment between internal states and external actions.

Intent +

The outcome or purpose behind a behavior or action.

Internal Representations +

The content of our thinking, including pictures, sounds, feelings, tastes, smells, and internal dialogue.

NLP Jargons (Part 3)

Kinesthetic +

Relating to the sense of touch or physical sensations.

Law of Requisite Variety +

This law states that “In any system, the element with the greatest flexibility will have the most influence or control.”

Leading +

After establishing rapport, leading involves guiding a person’s state or behavior by changing your own behavior in a way that encourages them to follow.

Lead System +

The preferred representational system someone uses to access information, often identified by eye-accessing cues.

Logical Level +

The level of abstraction or specificity in thought or communication. For example, “Animal” is a higher logical level than “Dog.”

Logical Type +

The category of information. For example, “Fruits” is a different logical type from “Vehicles.”

Mapping Across +

Changing the SubModalities of one experience to match those of another, often to alter how the experience is perceived.

Matching +

Deliberately imitating portions of another’s behavior to create rapport and enhance communication.

Meaning Reframe +

Changing the meaning of a situation by recovering additional content or changing the focus of attention.

Meta Model +

A model of language that identifies and clarifies deletions, distortions, and generalizations in communication.

Meta Programs +

Unconscious mental filters that influence how people perceive and respond to the world, such as “Toward” vs. “Away From.”

Metaphor +

A story, analogy, or figure of speech used to convey a concept or bypass resistance by appealing to the unconscious mind.

Milton Model +

A model of hypnotic language patterns derived from Milton Erickson, designed to access unconscious resources and create trance states.

Mirroring +

Imitating another person’s behavior, gestures, or speech patterns as a way to build rapport.

Mismatching +

Deliberately or unintentionally opposing someone’s behavior or ideas, which can either break rapport or highlight differences.

Modal Operator +

Words that indicate necessity (e.g., must, should) or possibility (e.g., can, may) and often reveal a person’s internal rules or constraints.

Modeling +

Identifying and replicating the thought processes, behaviors, and strategies of successful individuals.

NLP Jargons (Part 4)

Model of the World +

An individual’s unique perspective and understanding of reality, shaped by their experiences, beliefs, and values.

Neuro Linguistic Programming +

A methodology for understanding and improving human behavior, communication, and personal development using language and neurology.

Nominalization +

Turning a process or action into a static noun, such as turning “communicating” into “communication.”

Olfactory +

Relating to the sense of smell.

Outcome +

A desired result or goal that one aims to achieve, often used in setting clear and actionable intentions.

Overlap +

Using one representational system to lead into another, such as describing a visual scene to evoke a feeling.

Pacing +

Matching or mirroring another person’s behavior or state to build rapport and create a sense of connection.

Parts +

A concept in NLP where aspects of the self are treated as distinct parts that can be communicated with and integrated.

Parts Integration +

A technique for resolving internal conflicts by aligning and integrating opposing parts of the self.

Perceptual Position +

A method of viewing a situation from different perspectives: first position (self), second position (other), and third position (observer).

Phonological Ambiguity +

A language pattern where a word sounds like another word, creating multiple interpretations (e.g., “I see” vs. “icy”).

Preferred Rep System +

The representational system (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, etc.) a person most commonly uses to process information.

Presuppositions +

Assumptions implied by language that influence understanding and behavior, often used in communication and change work.

Presuppositions of NLP +

Core beliefs and assumptions that form the foundation of NLP, such as “The map is not the territory” and “Every behavior has a positive intent.”

Primary Rep System +

The dominant sensory modality a person uses to experience and interpret the world.

Punctuation Ambiguity +

A language pattern where punctuation changes the meaning of a sentence, often creating multiple interpretations.

Quotes +

A storytelling technique in NLP where a message is embedded within a quoted story to bypass resistance and influence the unconscious mind.

Rapport +

A sense of connection and trust established through matching, mirroring, and effective communication techniques.

NLP Jargons (Part 5)

Rapport +

A state of trust and responsiveness created by matching and mirroring another person’s behavior, language, and emotional state.

Reframing +

The process of changing the meaning or perspective of a situation to create a different emotional or behavioral response.

Representation +

The way information is stored and processed internally, such as through images, sounds, feelings, tastes, or smells.

Representational System +

The sensory modalities (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory, gustatory) through which people perceive and represent their experiences.

Resources +

Internal or external elements, such as skills, strategies, or support systems, that enable a person to achieve desired outcomes.

Resourceful State +

A positive emotional or mental state that enhances a person’s ability to think, act, or perform effectively.

Second Position +

One of the perceptual positions, where a person imagines experiencing a situation from another person’s perspective.

Sensory Acuity +

The ability to observe and interpret subtle sensory cues in others, such as changes in posture, breathing, or facial expressions.

Sensory-Based Description +

A description based on observable sensory information, such as “Her voice was soft” or “He moved quickly,” rather than subjective interpretations.

State +

A person’s emotional, mental, and physiological condition at a specific moment, which influences their behavior and responses.

Strategy +

A sequence of internal and external processes used to achieve a specific outcome, such as decision-making or problem-solving.

SubModalities +

The finer distinctions within each representational system, such as brightness, size, or clarity in the visual system, or tone and volume in the auditory system.

Surface Structure +

The literal words or expressions a person uses, which may not fully represent their deeper thoughts or experiences (deep structure).

Synesthesia +

A condition where two or more representational systems overlap, such as “seeing” sounds or “feeling” colors.

Syntactic Ambiguity +

A language pattern where the structure of a sentence allows multiple interpretations, creating flexibility in meaning.

NLP Jargons (Part 6)

Third Position +

One of the perceptual positions, where a person imagines observing a situation from an objective, detached perspective.

Time Line +

A representation of how individuals unconsciously organize their perception of past, present, and future events.

Time Line Therapy™ +

A therapeutic process in NLP designed to help individuals release negative emotions, limiting beliefs, and reframe experiences using their time line.

Trance +

A state of focused attention or altered consciousness, often used in hypnosis or deep learning processes in NLP.

Unconscious +

The part of the mind that operates below conscious awareness, influencing thoughts, behaviors, and responses.

Unconscious Mind +

The deeper part of the mind responsible for automatic functions, habits, and storing memories and emotions.

Universal Quantifiers +

Words such as “always,” “never,” and “everyone,” which generalize experiences or concepts to an absolute level.

Uptime +

A state of heightened external awareness, often used in NLP for sensory acuity and observing others effectively.

Values +

Core beliefs and principles that guide behavior and decision-making, forming the foundation of personal identity.

Vestibular System +

The sensory system responsible for balance and spatial orientation, influencing physical movement and coordination.

Visual +

Relating to the sense of sight or mental imagery.

Visual Squash +

An NLP technique used to resolve internal conflict by integrating opposing parts into a cohesive whole.

Well Formedness +

The criteria that make a goal or outcome clear, specific, achievable, and aligned with one’s values.