Schizophrenogenic Patterns in NLP: What Are They?

Hello everyone, this is Stalilingus! Did you miss me? Today, I’m excited to share some great material about schizophrenogenic patterns and how they can be a powerful tool for manipulation. Let’s dive in!

A schizophrenogenic pattern is a term from psychiatry that’s used in NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) to describe behavioral patterns in which a person uses so-called “double messages” in their thoughts and communication. These mixed signals confuse the recipient, create a sense of learned helplessness, and put them in a no-win situation where any choice they make feels wrong, ultimately leading to stress.

Everyday Examples of Schizophrenogenic Patterns

The simplest example of a schizophrenogenic pattern is talking to someone while scrolling through your phone. We all do it. In that moment, your conversation partner feels uncomfortable and starts to wonder: Should they keep talking or wait until you’re done? Are they boring you, or is the topic uninteresting to you?

Another common example is when someone is dissatisfied with everything you do, telling you that you’re always doing things “wrong,” but never offering any suggestions on how to do it “right.” This often happens in parent-child relationships, especially with teenagers. Parents may claim they’re trying to help their child improve, but the outcome is usually predictable: the child loses motivation and retreats to the computer or seeks out friends instead.

Schizophrenogenic Patterns as Manipulation Tools

There are many types of schizophrenogenic patterns, but one thing is clear—they are tools of manipulation.

Often, people use these patterns unconsciously and don’t realize anything is wrong. However, some use them deliberately to manipulate and gain advantages.

Using schizophrenogenic patterns primarily suppresses initiative. Nobody likes to lose, so people often decide it’s better to do nothing than to be criticized for their efforts.

For example, consider a situation where a wife nags her husband to earn more money, but when he starts working more and is away from home, she complains about his absence.

How Manipulators Use Schizophrenogenic Patterns

As a manipulation tool, the person using a schizophrenogenic pattern tries to keep the other person engaged in communication and to establish roles in the relationship. The manipulator wants to be the decision-maker and doesn’t want you to leave the conversation. Through these patterns, they instill sadness, fear, guilt, helplessness, or a sense of worthlessness. Schizophrenogenic patterns are also used to create codependent relationships.

The main goal of using these patterns in communication is to keep the other person in a constant state of action, known as “operating.” The manipulator continually sets new goals and stirs up interest, but it’s impossible to achieve these goals in communication with them—there will always be something wrong. The manipulator also tries to limit the other person’s behavioral strategies and discourages learning anything new, as this would threaten their control.

Breaking Free from Schizophrenogenic Communication

It’s very difficult to break out of schizophrenogenic communication. The manipulator provokes you by targeting what matters most to you. The stronger your reaction, the harder it is to leave the interaction.

Schizophrenogenic communication can be found everywhere: at work, in relationships with parents, children, and loved ones. Be aware of these patterns and recognize them wherever they appear.