What are Meta-Programs?

Meta-programs are patterns of thinking and behavior that have been identified in the field of neuro-linguistic programming (NLP). These patterns are believed to be helpful in understanding and predicting human behavior, providing insight into the underlying mental processes and decision-making strategies that people use. In the capable hands of a trained professional they can be very useful for personal development. In my case they allow me to better understand, communicate as well as, identify and change patterns of thought and behavior that may be holding my clients back.

Here I will list out and explain 10 of the more common known meta-programs. Unless otherwise stated, these meta-programs can be further broken into 3 categories; Decision-making, Problem-Solving and Communication.

Matching and mirroring:

This refers to the unconscious tendency humans have to mimic the behavior, language, body language, style, etc. of others in order to build rapport and establish a sense of connection. The saying, "people like people like themselves" is a true statement. We naturally tend to gravitate, open up more and accept people who are like ourselves.

Generalization and discrimination:

This meta-program refers to the way people categorize their experiences. People who lean more towards generalization tend to use broad, general terms and focus on more overall patterns and trends. Where as a person who is more discriminatory tends to focus on specific details to distinguish between different experiences, identifying the differences between them.