NLP and the Presidential Campaign

Back in 2008 I saw an article that pointed out that Obama was using NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) in his speeches. For this reason I make it a point to not listen to him speak but rather to read transcripts of his presentations.

Those who are familiar with NLP know that when mastered one can manipulate a lot of "lesser conscious" people easily and also be aware of when other people are trying to hide true intentions or are trying to suggest things to you on a sub-conscious level.

I'm sure a lot of people thought I was just nuts and being an Obama hater. Well the NY Times has revealed that the 2012 campaign in fact used "Behavioral science" experts.

Campaign volunteers who knocked on doors last week in swing states like Pennsylvania, Ohio and Nevada did not merely remind people to vote and arrange for rides to the polls. Rather, they worked from a script, using subtle motivational techniques that research has shown can prompt people to take action.

“We used the scripts more as a guide,” said Sarah Weinstein, 18, a Columbia freshman who traveled with a group to Cleveland the weekend before the election. “The actual language we used was invested in the individual person.”

This is classic NLP. Note that in the article they point out that they have not and "cannot" disclose the specific techniques that have been deployed. There is a list of people who are disclosed as being "advisors" look up their work.

If you think that Team Obama is the only one's using such techniques to manipulate the behavior of the general public well I suppose you don't have any emergency supplies in your home either.