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by omginternets 3338 days ago
>Neuro-Linguistic Programming is often labelled as pseudoscience

There's a definite link between language and cognition: e.g. semantic priming effects. Clearly if we're able to be convinced by verbal argumentation, it follows that language can (in some sense) shape cognition.

Where NLP becomes a pseudoscience is when it's presented as therapeutic, or at least as systematically therapeutic. In other words, the first principles of NLP are (generally) sound. The application is not.

1 comments

Where NLP becomes a pseudoscience is when it's presented as therapeutic, or at least as systematically therapeutic. In other words, the first principles of NLP are (generally) sound. The application is not.

I looked into scientific backing just now - seems its therapeutic effect is mostly not backed by science. Ie it doesn't cure phobias, as it says it does. Then again, I would have to look at those 18% of studies that DO show an effect, and see if they are doing something different than the ones that don't show an effect (NLP can mean a lot of things).

https://www.degruyter.com/view/j/ppb.2010.41.issue-2/v10059-...

Yes ... that was exactly my point. Sorry, I'm a bit confused by your comment. Are you agreeing or refuting?