Inception: Part 1 Hypnosis and Neuro Linguistic Programming

Inception may turn out to be one of the finest sci-fi films ever produced. But is it strictly sci-fi?

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The articles that have been written about the movie Inception deal with whether the events that occur in that move can happen for real or not?  Thus, a conversation ensues about the latest science of dreaming, and it cites the opinions of experts in this area.  Although this is an interesting and worthwhile subject.  This is NOT where we will begin.  We will begin with the techniques that were used in the story telling.  In case you have not seen this movie, we STRONGLY urge you to see it.  It is spectacular.  Here is a trailer from it in case you need motivation.  If you are unable to see the embedded video here is the link:http://bit.ly/bDznLb


Neuro Linguistic Programming
NLP or Neuro Linguistic Programming has been around since the 1980s.  it is not generally accepted as a valid scientific theory by the psychiatric community.  The critics of this theory say that there are no empirical studies that support the view. NLP however, is widely practiced in the business community, self-help groups and by many hypnotherapists.   NLP is based on the groundwork of Milton Erickson, an American psychologist.  Erickson is a controversial force in the acceptance of NLP.  Some, have accused him of a lack of professional ethics.  There are several strains of NLP.  The actual founders of this movement were two men, Richard Bandler and John Grinder.  Initially, they both developed the theory, but in time their relationship would become contentious with both of them involved in legal battles for the right to use the term NLP.

"We hypothesize that in everyday life consciousness is in a continual state of flux between the general reality orientation and the momentary microdynamics of trance..." Milton Erickson


NLP is a therapy based on the use of "altered" states of consciousness to induce behavioral change.  Those who practice this method wish for the patient to learn how to slip into different consciousness levels for both relaxation and a healing of their internal conflicts.  These conflicts they view as originating in the "inner child" who they see, still dictating the actual behavior of the patient.  This change of consciousness is induced through gestures, words, cues to the subconscious and other practices.  Charles Tart, a psychologist, stated this about consciousness, coining the term, consensus trance in his book Waking Up:

Consensus Trance occurs when you automatically think, behave, and feel “normally,” when the internal workings of your mind automatically echo most of the values and beliefs of your culture. This interlocking set of beliefs includes a belief that we don’t have a “belief system.” Consensus Trance induction is a process of shaping the behavior and the consciousness of the baby/person/subject to be “normal”. Doing so ensures that there is a high level of standardization of behavior and consciousness in all people so they fit social norms.**

The questions that we will try to answer in this series are the following:
1.   Is "inception" dreaming at all, or, more likely an inducing of an altered state of consciousness?
2.  Can people possibly cross over into someone else's consciousness or dream?
3.  What could be the benefits or perils of such possibilities?

Stay Tuned for Part 2.