NLP – The World of Neuro-Linguistic Programming

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Evan Bortnick Premium Member
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Preemptive Double-Binds
Hi All,

Here's something I've been working on lately. I'm hoping this is a good place to get inspiration and help. I recently heard a wonderful taped lecture by Paul Watzlawick, called in German, "The Therapy of 'as-if' (Die Therapie des "Als-Ob"). In this lecture, he gave a wonderful example of a preemptive Double-Bind (a double-bind which works against itself, by it's very nature). There was a women in one of his courses who said she could not refuse any man's request. He simply requested that she go up to three men in the group and refuse a request they each made. Of course, she said she was not able to do this, effectively refusing HIS request. Case closed.

Since hearing that tape, it occurs to me that double-binds in one form or another confront us constantly, working either against us, or against the individual who utters them. I'm looking to sharpen my skill at constructing elegant double-binds which serve, as in the example above, to effectively cancel out the original. Sort of like a high-potency homeopathic remedy, like cures like.

In a recent conversation with Klaus Grochowiak, a highly respected NLP trainer here in Germany, I told him about a student of mine who has a really hard-wired negative sort. No matter what happens, this student finds anything and/or everything wrong with it. Because this negative sort is conscious and consciously utilized, Klaus suggested I simply ask him to identify all the flaws in this sort-system. Elegant, yet it didn't occur to me.

I'm asking this group for any and all examples of this sort of double-bind, and/or any tips, help and suggestions for the practice of constructing them.

Thanks in advance for any help.

regards

Evan
- 26 Mar 2008, 2:59 pm
Evan Bortnick wrote: > Hi All, > > Here's something I've been working on lately. I'm hoping this is a > good place to get inspiration and help. I recently heard a wonderful > taped lecture by Paul Watzlawick, called in German, "The Therapy of > 'as-if' (Die Therapie des "Als-Ob"). In this lecture, he gave a > wonderful example of a preemptive Double-Bind (a double-bind which > works against itself, by it's very nature). There was a women in one > of his courses who said she could not refuse any man's request. He > simply requested that she go up to three men in the group and refuse > a request they each made. Of course, she said she was not able to do > this, effectively refusing HIS request. Case closed. > > Since hearing that tape, it occurs to me that double-binds in one > form or another confront us constantly, working either against us, or > against the individual who utters them. I'm looking to sharpen my > skill at constructing elegant double-binds which serve, as in the > example above, to effectively cancel out the original. Sort of like a > high-potency homeopathic remedy, like cures like. > > In a recent conversation with Klaus Grochowiak, a highly respected > NLP trainer here in Germany, I told him about a student of mine who > has a really hard-wired negative sort. No matter what happens, this > student finds anything and/or everything wrong with it. Because this > negative sort is conscious and consciously utilized, Klaus suggested > I simply ask him to identify all the flaws in this sort-system. > Elegant, yet it didn't occur to me. > > I'm asking this group for any and all examples of this sort of > double-bind, and/or any tips, help and suggestions for the practice > of constructing them. > > Thanks in advance for any help. > > regards > > Evan

NLP – The World of Neuro-Linguistic Programming

Preemptive Double-Binds