In using the Meta-Model hypnotically, we play with the ill-formedness of the language in order to speak with artful vagueness.
1) Comparative deletions or unspecified comparisons:
A statement that makes a comparison but fails to specify the standard, the basis, the criteria, etc. of the comparison.
“And it’s more or less the right thing to do . . .”
2) Lack of referential index.
A statement that lacks a specific referent.
“One can, you know, relax . . .”
3) Unspecified verbs / nouns:
Verbs and Nouns that are vague, general, and having no specified referent.
“And you can learn in new ways, so that your skills at hypnosis can greatly increase . . .”
4) Universal quantifier:
Words that indicate universality, or allness.
“And as you appreciate all of the things that you have learned, and all of the things you will be learning . . .”
5) Lost performatives:
A value judgment is presented but the “performer” of the judgment, the person who made the map, has been left out.
“And it’s a good thing to wonder, to really wonder . . .”
6) Nominalizations:
When verbs or process terms are turned into nouns, frozen in time and treated as Things, we have nominalized (or named, nounified) the actions.
“As you experience a deeper relaxation than you have before, your appreciation for the new insights can further deepen your growing resourcefulness . . .”
7) Cause—Effect:
A map is made about events, experiences, activities in terms of one causing another and one being the effect of some cause. The causation can be overtly stated or just implied.
“If you are feeling confused, then it means that you are at the gateway of a new learning . . .” (If . . . then)
“As you wonder, curiously, then will only allow you to really learn . . .” (As you . . . then . . . )
“Because you are wondering, you are really learning, perhaps in ways that you don’t even yet realize . . .”
8) Mind-Reading:
Claiming to know the thoughts or feelings of another person without specfiying how you know that information.
“I know that you are wondering just how much more resourceful you are going to
become . . .”
9) Complex equivalence:
Two things that occur on different logical levels (levels of abstraction or levels of mind) are equated as if “the same,” or equal.
“When you begin to hear these patterns, it means that you are really learning . . .”
10) Presuppositions:
Something is assumed to exist, be real, be meaningful, etc. Something we just assume or presuppose without presenting.
“You are learning many things . . .”
Additional Language Patterns for Communicating Hypnotically:
1) Tag Questions:
A question added after a statement that can displace resistance, invite acceptance, sneak the statement in, etc.
“You can relax even more fully, can you not?”
2) Conversational postulates:
A seeming question that actually calls for a “yes” or “no” response, but which actually presents a statement or command and that activates the hearer to act.
“Can you pass the ketchup?”
“And because this is something that you really are drawn toward, can your hand move up toward your face as a sign of your growing interest as ane xpression of your commitment to become more resourceful?”
3) Extended quote:
Using quotes from others inside of quotes or stories, or narratives. The design is to communicate messages without them seeming to be commands, suggestions, or questions.
Last week Bob was telling him about the training in NC where he was using the Meta-Yes pattern and how that Jim had used it with his wife and when she said ‘Yes’
she found herself able to feel really much more in control of her life than she had ever before . . .”
4) Selectional restriction violations:
Describing something in such a way that a literal reading or interpretation would recognize it as ridiculous, but which makes sense when caught up in the story.
“And if the grass growing in your front yard could speak, maybe it would say, ‘Hey, I’ve got feelings too!’ and might feel put off by the lack of considerate treatment, because when feelings are ignored, relationships can be damaged, and . . .”
5) Ambiguities:
Statements are made that lack clarity of reference and so are ambiguous in meaning. We can generate ambiguities in sound (phonological ambiguity), structure and order (syntactic ambiguity), in extent of meaning (scope ambiguity) and in punctuation (punctuation ambiguity).
1) Syntactic: in this kind of ambiguity, we cannot immediately determine from the context the function of the word.
“Hypnotizing semanticists can be tricky.”
2) Scope: in this one, we cannot determine by the context how much one portion of
a sentence applies to another portion.
“Speaking to you as a child . . .” “The old men and women . . .” “The growing relaxation of your hands and feet . . .”
3) Punctuation: In run on sentences, a word both ends and begins a sentence. “Let me see your hand me your watch.” In improper pause, you begin a sentence and insert pauses which forces a mind . . . read. In an incomplete sentence we begin a sentence and never complete . . . We then simply go on to another statement.
“I want you to notice your hand me the glass . . .”
4) Phonological ambiguity: “Hear . . . here . . .” “Light . . . lite . . .”
6) Embedded commands, questions, suggestions.
A command, question, or suggestion embedded into a conversation or statement that is marked out by tones and volume.
Hypnotic Processes for Communicating in a way that induces Trance:
1) Pacing current experience to lead to new experiences.
Making statements that allow the hearer to be able to externally verify the statement and so it matches or fits with the person’s experience.
“And as you notice yourself just sitting there, listening to my voice and really wondering where this is going to lead, you can begin to notice the tension in your legs and move them ever so gently to relax even further . . .”
2) Double binding statements:
Making a statement that describes things so that however a person responds, the response is inevitable. The person is “bound” by the description.
“And that means your unconscious mind is also here and can hear what I say. And since that’s the case, you are probably learning about this and actually already know more about this at an unconscious level than you think you do, and it’s not right for me to tell him, learn this or learn that, because he can learn in any way that is most effective for him, can he not?”
3) Utilization or incorporation:
Using or incorporating whatever happens in a context and making it part of the communications and experience.
“I just not convinced about this . . . “
”That’s right, you are not convinced yet and I wouldn’t be either because there is one key questions that has to be asked before you can feel totally convinced about this ...”
4) Intonation patterns (at least in English):
Statements are conveyed when we keep our tone of voice even or straight.
Questions are suggested by raising our tone at the end of a sentence.
Commands are suggested by lowering the tone at the end.
Exercise:
1) Identify 3 to 5 resourceful states.
Calm —>Curious —>Learning —>Practicality —>Achievement 2) Write an Induction that ties the states together.
“As I think about a gentle breeze blowing through my hair as I stroll along in the beautiful garden .. it makes me want to breathe the beauty and relaxation in and enjoy it . . . and to stop . . . and just notice the wonder around me . . . and it’s like
the gentle calmness of the garden tiself that enters into me .. comfortably with its life-giving vitality so that the thought that race around in my head slow down and enjoy this moment . . .