Exercise Meta model language patterns &

responses
Below are some filters people use in relation to deletion, distortion & generalisation. .
The secret is to respond with a question. An effective response in NLP terms would
help someone recover choice remove the deletion and distortion and challenge the
generalisation and move them towards an outcome.

Distortions
Mind Reading. Claiming to know someones internal state. eg You dont
want an agreement
Response

How do you know I dont want an agreement?

Lost Performative. Value judgements where the person doing the judging is
left out. eg Its a bad thing to change your mind
Response

Specifically how is it bad? Bad for whom?

Cause effect: Where the cause is put wrongly outside of self. Eg You make
me angry
Response

How does what Im doing cause you to choose to feel angry

Complex equivalence. Where two experiences are interpreted as being

synonymous. E g She always complains, it wont work.
Response

How does her complaining mean that it wont work?

Deletions
Nominalisations. Process words which have been frozen in time, making
them nouns. Eg There is no communication here
Response

Specifically whos not communicating what to whom? How would you

like to communicate?

Unspecified verbs. Eg This is nonesense

Response
 How specifically?

a. Simple deletion eg I am uncomfortable

Response

About what/whom?

b. Lack of referential index. Fails to specify a person or thing. Eg They will do

what they want
Response

Who specifically does what they want? What do they want?

c. Comparative deletion as in good, better, best, worst, more, less eg This is a

better option
Response

Better in what way? Compared to what?

Generalisations
Universal Quantifiers. Generalisations such as all, every, always, never,
everyone, no one etc. eg No one is interested They always find fault
Response

Find counter examples or say No One? What would happen if they didnt
find fault?

Modal operators of necessity as in should, shouldnt, must, must not, have

to, need to eg I have to take/get this option
Response

What would happen if you didnt? Also Or?

Modal operators of Possibility (or impossibility) as in can/cant, will/wont,

may/may not, possible/impossible eg I cant accept this offer
Response

What prevents you?

What is blocking you from.?
What would happen if you did?