NLP Neurological Levels

Introduction

Neuro-linguistic Programming deals with bringing about personal change. This change is not just in outward behavior, but our underlying aspects as well. The change can be in our values, beliefs and unconscious parts of the self that we might not be consciously aware of. Our inner representations determine our behavior and affect us at several different levels. An actual change can only occur after the change is conceived and imagined in the person’s mind.

When the different levels of thinking are in congruence with each other, the person is experiencing a meaningful life. Neuro-linguistic Programming terms this as alignment. Alignment occurs when every part of the person is heading in the same direction. On the contrary, when inner misalignment occurs, there is an inner conflict between various levels of the mind. In order to bring about a lasting personal change, these different levels must be brought in harmony with each other.

Neurological Levels

Anthropologist Gregory Bateson developed the original Neuro-linguistic Programming model on neurological levels, which was later on adopted by Robert Dilts in his Neuro-linguistic Programming pursuits. There are six neurological levels organized on top of one another. A set of rules apply for changing something at any level and these rules differ from each other. Changing an attribute of one level may or may not affect the upper levels. However, changing an attribute at the upper levels will always affect the lower levels. As per Neuro-linguistic courses, the model can be considered as a cascading waterfall, where the upper levels translate their effects on the lower levels. Moreover, a change in behavior of a lower level will not last for a long time if a value of belief at the upper level does not support the new behavior. If these neurological levels are not carefully understood, it could result in problems for changing a behavior. On the other hand, identifying and understanding the significance of each level and help make and retain a desired change.

In order to understand these Neuro-linguistic levels, we must start with the lowest level and work our way up to the highest level. Starting with the lowest neurological level:

1) Environment: This is the lowest level of the neurological model. It helps you consider the surrounding world, in terms of location, people, objects etc.

2) Behavior: This level comes above the environment. Using this level, you can identify your specific behaviors that you are good at, such as negotiating, making schedules etc.

3) Capability: This level comes above the behavior. Using this level you can identify what the overall capability is that your behavior translates to, such as marketing, time management etc.

4) Belief: This level comes above the capability. This level indicates who you are and what you believe about yourself. What is the belief that is true for you in order to have the capability? For example importance of value of a product, or importance of time.

5) Identity: This level comes above the belief. It sums up you as a person by stating your identity. For example, you are a business oriented person, or a timely person.

6) Spirituality: This level comes above the identity. It indicates what metaphor or symbol can be used to identify your spiritual connection or any higher ideal. For example, it could be a swan, a blue sky or a tropical garden.

As per Neuro-linguistic training, the model can be traversed to identify the higher level attributes of a lower level behavior. Choose different behaviors that you excel at to find the higher level aspects. Every level feeds the level below in a logical hierarchy. For example, a person who believes in the importance of people will have the capability of relating to people. This capability will feed his behavior related to people skills such as listening, rapport etc. Moreover, these behavioral skills will support the capability of the person, and thereby his beliefs.

As per Neuro-linguistic courses, the model can be used to address problems or taking important decisions as well. You can begin by identifying the level in the Neuro-linguistic model where the problem exists. Then identify the cause of the problem in terms of its level, by tracing the issue at each level. You can then find out how a personal change in a level can be done to tackle the problem.

This Neuro-linguistic model can be applied to all kinds of self development. It can also be used for problem solving. The Neuro-linguistic model can be used for understanding others and communicating with them. The six neurological level of the Neuro-linguistic model portray the mental map generated by the mind and the different neurological filters applied.

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