Understanding NLP Submodalities
Introduction
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is a psychological approach developed in the 1970s by Richard Bandler and John Grinder, focusing on the interplay between neurological processes, language, and behavioural patterns. A core concept within NLP is submodalities, which refer to the finer distinctions within each sensory modality, visual, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory, and gustatory, that shape our subjective experiences.
These submodalities are the qualitative building blocks of mental representations, such as the brightness of a mental image or the tone of an internal voice. By manipulating these qualities, NLP practitioners aim to alter emotional responses and behaviours, a technique often applied in therapeutic settings, coaching, and self-development.
This page provides an overview of NLP submodalities, explores their potential neurological underpinnings, and presents a detailed table of their linguistic expressions. While NLP remains a debated field in academic circles due to limited empirical support, its concepts resonate with certain neuroscientific principles, offering a bridge for further exploration.
“Submodalities are the fine details of our sensory experiences, think of the brightness of a mental image or the tone of an internal voice. In Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), understanding and adjusting these details can transform how we think, feel, and behave, offering powerful tools for personal development.”
VAKOG: What Are NLP Submodalities?
Submodalities are the specific attributes or qualities of sensory experiences within the primary representational systems of NLP: visual (sight), auditory (sound), kinesthetic (touch and feeling), olfactory (smell), and gustatory (taste). For example, a visual submodality might include the brightness, size, or colour of a mental image, while an auditory submodality could involve the volume, pitch, or location of a sound. These distinctions allow individuals to encode and experience memories, thoughts, and emotions in a nuanced and highly patterned form.
In NLP practice, submodalities are used to modify subjective experiences. For instance, reducing the brightness and size of a distressing mental image may decrease its emotional impact, a technique often employed in interventions like the Swish Pattern or Mapping Across. The underlying assumption is that altering these sensory qualities changes how the brain processes the associated experience, thereby influencing emotional and behavioural outcomes.
Neurological Explanations of Submodalities
“When you imagine a vivid, colourful image, the brain’s visual cortex activates similarly to seeing it in reality. Adjusting submodalities like brightness or size may modulate activity in these areas, potentially shifting emotional responses.”
While NLP submodalities are primarily a psychological construct, they align with established neuroscientific principles regarding sensory processing. Each sensory modality is processed by specialised regions of the brain, and submodalities may correspond to the distinct features handled by these areas.
Visual Submodalities
The visual system offers a clear example of how submodalities might map onto neurological processes. The primary visual cortex (V1) processes basic features such as edges and orientation. Subsequent areas handle more complex attributes: V4 specialises in colour perception, while V5 processes motion. Changing a mental image’s brightness, for instance, may modulate activity in these areas.
Auditory Submodalities
In the auditory system, the primary auditory cortex (A1) processes sound frequency and intensity, while higher-order areas handle pitch, tone, and spatial localisation. Auditory submodalities such as volume, pitch, and location may thus reflect differential activation in these regions.
Kinesthetic Submodalities
The kinesthetic system involves the somatosensory cortex (S1), which maps tactile sensations like pressure, temperature, and texture across the body. Kinesthetic submodalities such as weight, tension, or location in the body may correspond to these sensory mappings.
In NLP, submodalities are the smaller details of our senses, like the volume of a sound or the texture of a feeling. Think of them as sliders on a mixing board: tweaking them can change the whole vibe of your experience.
Linguistic Expressions of Submodalities
Table 1: Visual Submodalities
| Submodality | Possible Expressions |
|---|---|
| Colour | “It’s colourful.” “It’s in black and white.” “A colourful character.” |
| Brightness | “It’s bright.” “It’s dim.” “He’s a really bright guy.” |
| Size | “It’s large.” “It’s small.” “It blew out of all proportion.” |
| Distance | “It’s close.” “It’s far away.” “The distant past.” |
| Clarity | “It’s all clear to me now.” “It’s fuzzy.” |
| Perspective | “I’m in the picture.” (associated), “I’m watching myself.” (dissociated) |
Table 2: Auditory Submodalities
| Submodality | Possible Expressions |
|---|---|
| Volume | “It’s loud.” “It’s soft.” |
| Pitch | “It’s high-pitched.” “It’s low-pitched.” |
| Location | “It’s coming from the left.” “It’s coming from the right.” |
Table 3: Kinesthetic Submodalities
| Submodality | Possible Expressions |
|---|---|
| Pressure | “It’s heavy pressure.” “It’s light touch.” |
| Temperature | “It’s warm.” “It’s cold.” |
| Weight | “It’s heavy.” “It’s light.” |
Controversies and Limitations
Despite its practical applications, NLP remains controversial in academic psychology. Critics argue that many claims are anecdotal and lack rigorous empirical support. While neurological parallels exist, the direct link between submodality interventions and measurable changes in brain function has not been conclusively established.
Try this: Think of a mildly stressful memory. Notice its submodalities, its size, colour, distance. Now, shrink the image, make it black and white, and push it farther away. How does that change your feelings?
References
- Visual Cortex. Wikipedia.
- Areas and Modules in Visual Cortex. NCBI Bookshelf.
- The Cutaneous Sensory System. ScienceDirect.
- Decoding Across Sensory Modalities. PMC.
- Sensory Neuroscience. ScienceDirect.
