Hypnotic language patterns are not about hypnosis, because people think traditional hypnosis is about having people close their eyes and go into a trance. What hypnotic language patterns are really about is learning and harnessing the powers of our language.
These language patterns are called hypnosis because people learned about them by watching and studying with the master hypnotist Milton Erickson. One day, after they had been modelling all this hypnotic language, one of them asked the other the
question, "do you think we can get the same results without
hypnosis?" In other words, was there a structure to what Milton did that you could use in normal waking consciousness with wide awake people?
The purpose of these hypnotic language patterns is to induce a state in some one or to change a state. Same as a parable, or a metaphor or a story.
Conversational hypnosis is a powerful form of excellence in human communication used quite naturally and effectively by successful and persuasive professionals in every field of endeavour. It can be adapted for use in many situations.
The "Milton Model": Hypnotic Language Patterns
Milton Model patterns are all about chunking up and gaining agreement. This is especially useful in business, management, coaching and relationships especially when the patterns are used outside of the conscious awareness of the listener.
Distortions
1. Mind Reads
Speaking as if you know the thoughts or feelings of another without explaining how you know.
“I know that you are wondering how to use this”
“You may be wondering…”
“I know that finding the right coach is important to you”
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2. Lost Performatives (Judgements)
Value judgments where the performer of the value judgment is not mentioned (“lost”).
“And it’s OK to feel a bit confused at this point...”
“In business, it’s good to make a profit”
3. Cause & Effect
Where it is stated or implied that one thing causes another.
Examples:
A makes B happen
If... then...
As you... then you...
While you...., your competition will...
“Because you’re now so relaxed, you can accept positive suggestions”
“When you breathe out, all the tension will leave your body”
“Attending next steps will cause you to re-evaluate where you are going and what training you need to support this”
4. Complex Equivalence
Where two things that are not the same are equated, or one is taken as implying the other “That means...” or “Time is money”
“My fee structure is fair and means that you are focused on getting a quick result for you and your business”
5. Presuppositions
Things which have to be assumed to be true for the sentence to be understood.
“…and 10 is where you’re going to be when you’ve solved the problem”
(Presupposition: you’re going to solve the problem)
“When you've told me what you need, we'll be clearer about how I can help”
(Presuppositions: you’re going to tell me what you need, and there is some way that I can help)
Generalisations
6. Universal Quantifiers
Words such as “all, every, always, never, everyone” which make universal generalisations.
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“Every breath takes you deeper into trance”
“All the things you are learning…”
“Every ‘no’ brings you closer to a ‘yes’”
“This program isn’t for everybody”
7. Modal Operators
Words which imply possibility or necessity, and which (necessity) imply rules.
“And you can really enjoy your new learnings”
“A person has to let things go some time”
“We’re going to have to make the investment sooner or later”
Deletions
8. Nominalisations
Processes (usually but not always verbs) which have been 'frozen' and turned into nouns. Abstract concepts that we talk about as if they were things.
“You will receive a notification of our decision in due course”
"I'm really pleased with your performance"
“This training is designed to promote understanding”
9. Unspecified Verbs
A verb that does not tell you what happened in a sensory specific way.
“You’re growing in many new ways”
“Continue to relax and slow down, and learn new things”
“Just get out there and sell!”
10. Unspecified referential index
A noun or pronoun that doesn’t refer to a particular thing in the real world (i.e. it has no ‘referential index’).
“People can learn easily when they relax”
“This is an enjoyable experience”
“Certain memories can surprise and delight you”
11. Simple deletions
Part of the information is missing, so the listener has to fill in the gaps from their own experiences and map of the world.
“You may be curious”
“Remember a time when you were spoken to pleasantly”
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12. Comparative Deletions (Unspecified Comparison) The sentence does not specify what something is being compared to.
“You can go deeper into trance now”
“Allow yourself to think less but enjoy more”
“My coaching programme will make you better and better”
Pacing
13. Pacing Current Experience
Where the client’s experience (verifiable, external) is described in a way which is undeniable (often followed by a cause-effect pattern, a complex equivalence, or a simple suggestion).
“We're sitting here, in this meeting, and we're aware of how time's getting on, and we all want to reach a decision that
works for everyone...” (the last bit is a suggestion - they might not actually have been paying attention)
14. Simple conjunction
Joining pacing statements and suggestions with 'and' to make them flow more smoothly (see example above)
15. Utilisation
Using any client comments or other incidental events and linking them to suggestions.
“The sound of people talking outside can remind you how quiet it is in here as you relax”
Client: “I don’t think I’m in a trance yet.”
Practitioner: “That’s right you don’t…think... you’re in a
trance… because you’re evaluating trance with your conscious mind and it’s… you’re unconscious… mind which knows how to go into trance now”
Boss: "We're not ready for it"
You: "I agree - we're not ready" (implying that the competition is)
16. Truisms
Undeniable generalisations.
“Sooner or later you have to take a break”
“Most people work more effectively when they have ways of recharging their energy”
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Useful for preframing suggestions or requests: " So would it be OK to experiment with taking a short break every 90 minutes, and monitor the results you get?"