Combat NLP: What Is It?

When limited to the techniques and ideas of the humanistic branch of NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), many practices lose their effectiveness, becoming empty rituals and losing their value. The devaluation of NLP calls for a meaningful shake-up—one that is both effective and qualified.

Nothing affects a person as much as words. Words can make us happy, inspire us to move mountains, and create miracles. But they can also plunge us into deep sadness, sap our strength, and sometimes even make us lose ourselves. A “kind” word said at the right moment can have far more serious consequences, and we may never realize that it was the cause. Insults, on the other hand, have less impact—we know we’re being told something “bad” and are on guard. Our evaluation of the situation acts like reliable armor, preventing deep harm.

Still, even someone wearing a bulletproof vest can be stabbed—between the protective plates, perhaps just by being hugged. For another person’s words to affect you, you have to let them get close. They need to be in rapport with you—when you’ve allowed them into your personal safety zone. The most damaging words are those spoken with a smile, with apparent care, interest, or sympathy. The wounds they leave are dangerous because, without us noticing, they can turn our lives into suffering.

People often have no idea what they’re doing to each other, what kinds of “weapons” they use against one another—often unconsciously. We have a wonderful tool at our disposal—our consciousness—but not only do we not master it, we often use it to harm ourselves and others, like the proverbial madman with a razor. The first step to protecting yourself from this “madman” is to acknowledge their existence.

Combat NLP exists. And it’s not used by sinister sorcerers brewing up evil spells and curses. In fact, it’s worse: the techniques of combat NLP are used by those we least expect—our friends, family, loved ones, and acquaintances. The more fiercely someone insists that “NLP is nonsense,” the more likely it is that they’re using it—unconsciously, of course, without considering the consequences of their words. After all, who wants to connect what they’ve said to someone’s troubles or even health issues? “It’s just words,” people say. But what if those words are exactly what plunged someone into a sea of negative emotions, made them feel helpless, or led them toward depression?

Everyday Manipulation: A Closer Look

Have you ever thought about the typical New Year’s greetings we all use? Year after year, without realizing it, we drill into each other’s heads the idea that nothing depends on us: “May joy and success follow you this year! May all your plans come true! May luck be with you!” Notice that joy and success are left to decide for themselves whether to accompany a person. Plans may or may not come true on their own, and luck—if it wants to—might be nearby. No wonder most people don’t believe in their own power to change their lives. “No, change isn’t possible, no matter what I do. Nothing can be changed.”

The basic states people fall into when exposed to combat NLP techniques are helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness. The paths to these states are varied, but they share common features, which led us to develop a model. When Bandler and Grinder, the founders of humanistic NLP, created their approach, they focused only on one side of communication—modeling top communicators who were unique psychotherapists.

They didn’t explicitly describe the other side—the client. We started to wonder: clients must be very inventive and successful at maintaining their problems to end up in a therapist’s office. What turns ordinary people into therapy clients?

We began identifying patterns for creating and maintaining problematic, borderline, and psychiatric states. These patterns allowed us to create models, and we were surprised to find that combat NLP is used on us far more often than we’d like—and by those closest to us. Not out of malice—they simply don’t realize the long-term consequences of this kind of communication!

So let’s become aware of it! Not to learn how to harm, but to understand how it works. To defend yourself properly, you need to know how you might be attacked.

Understanding and Defending Against Verbal Attacks

For those who practice knife fighting, it’s surprising to watch people study sambo or karate techniques against a knife. Why? Because a knife fighter will never act the way karate practitioners expect. To know how to defend against a knife, you need to study the ways it’s used in attacks. To make yourself invulnerable to verbal attacks, you need to know how others do it. And if you know someone is using covert influence, it’s no longer covert.

Pelevin and the Popularization of Combat NLP

In October 2008, Victor Pelevin’s book “P5” was published, describing several simple NLP techniques used for manipulation. Thanks to this “new Russian writer,” the term “combat NLP” began circulating online again, sparking rumors and speculation. It’s worth noting that Pelevin’s interest in NLP is long-standing but amateurish. His descriptions are full of distortions and omissions, and taken out of context, they lose their elegance, power, and practicality. Maybe that’s for the best.

The Two Sides of NLP

Combat NLP has always existed. Emerging from modeling and linguistics, NLP has always stood on two legs—two groups of ideas and practices that support and complement each other. One of these, now widely known, is the humanistic branch focused on positive attitudes and therapeutic effects. The other is “Combat NLP,” whose main goal is achieving objectives and manipulating a person’s reactions in extreme situations.

“If you don’t know how to install phobias in people, you don’t understand NLP at all.” — Richard Bandler

The humanistic model of NLP was created by linguistics professor John Grinder and psychology student Richard Bandler. “Combat NLP” was created by former intelligence officer John Grinder and Richard Bandler, who came from a tough background. In the “thunderous 70s,” when NLP was created, the difference between the two branches was small. It grew in the 80s and 90s, as the humanistic branch spread among psychologists and therapists, who rejected many of the ideas and methods of combat NLP. It was the humanistic model that was brought to Russia in the early 90s and is still taught today in NLP Practitioner and NLP Master courses. However, the humanistic model has never been able to solve all the problems faced by individuals and society. That’s why, quietly and without much publicity, organizations tasked with functions that require less-than-humanistic approaches have studied and successfully applied NLP technologies for their own purposes.

Communication Is Manipulation

Combat NLP techniques are based on identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities and weaknesses in a person’s personality, non-resourceful emotions and states, internal conflicts, and unrealistic expectations. The first component of today’s “Combat NLP” is the work of Richard Bandler. Another important component is the techniques used in intelligence services for infiltration and recruitment. The third is practical knowledge of the “labyrinths of pain, suffering, and hopelessness,” gained from therapeutic experience and knowledge.

Why This Matters Now

When limited to the techniques and ideas of the humanistic branch of NLP, many practices lose their effectiveness, becoming empty rituals and losing their value. The devaluation of NLP calls for a meaningful shake-up—one that is both effective and qualified.

Limitations of Combat NLP

Combat NLP techniques are not about intimidation or “secret mind-control tricks.” As a serious addition to the humanistic side of modern NLP, combat NLP requires a certain level of qualification and an understanding of the importance of its application. To use combat NLP techniques, you need personal resilience.

And yet, Combat NLP is a kind of “vaccine” for personal resilience!