Resistance to Pattern Transformation

Once patterns are established they becomes habituated – and stored primarily in the parietal lobe and within our physiology. They become relatively rigid, are dominated by implicit memories, and involve primitive limbic functions rather than the more intellectual frontal lobe. Therefore, once a pattern is habituated – at any level – it resists all efforts to change. Remembering that the human mind and body is a multi-level aggregate of components and systems, each with their own form of consciousness and intelligence, it is very important to realize that they are obsessed with the compulsion to retain familiar patterns. The goal is to hold onto those patterns at all costs, even if a component or system's patterns are contrary to the interests (i.e. the survival) of that element's patterns. The ultimate obsession with survival is not for the survival of the system, but the survival of its habituated patterns (Bandler, 2008).

An excellent example of this can easily be found within addictive behavior. Take smoking tobacco for instance. It is very well established that smoking affects the subject mentally and will eventually threaten the survival of the aggregate – the human mind and body. There are also other transpersonal concerns. Smoking or other tobacco use affects household budgets and causes the eventual suffering and premature death of the patient. Clearly, this adversely impacts family members and other associates. Nevertheless, smoking addiction is a neuro-physiological pattern compulsively held onto by each and every element for which the addiction has been habituated. Like any addiction, resistance to change is quite extensive as it involves neuro-physiological patterns dominated by limbic processes and implicit memories.

The ultimate resistance to transforming patterns can be found at the aggregate level. This is within the frontal lobe of the human brain (Dispenza, 2007). While this unique human attribute may truly represent a blessing for our potential, it is also in many ways our curse. The human frontal lobe, which comprises about 40% of our brain weight – as opposed to 12% for a dog and 7% for a cat – gives us the ability to imagine. However, it also causes problems when the same substrate that provides imaginative capability allows us to anticipate every imaginable type of horror. More importantly to the resistance issue is the fact that the left prefrontal cortex, a major player in maintaining happiness, is also the chief factor in aggregate-level resistance to change.

Although many clinicians have recognized the existence of neurological resistance to change, few have attributed the problem to any one substrate. Back in the 1950s and 1960s, David Elman – the radio personality and former stage hypnotist who greatly contributed by teaching hypnosis applications to medical and dental professionals – defined hypnosis as the state where the critical factor is bypassed and selective thinking can occur (1964). Milton H. Erickson, MD, the psychiatrist, whose followers call the "Father of American Hypnotherapy", talked specifically about the need to split the presenting problem from the cause (O'Hanlon, 1987). He used hypnosis as a tool to do this. Erickson's splitting is extremely similar to Elman's bypass concept. However, Darold Treffert, MD, the Wisconsin psychiatrist who is best know for his work with the savant syndrome, summed it up most succinctly when he mentioned that human potential is often limited by what he calls the "tyranny of the left brain" (1989).

What each of these men was discussing was the negative impact of the left prefrontal cortex. This contention is confirmed by the work of Alvaro Pasual-Leone, MD, of the Harvard Medical School (Walsh & Pascual-Leone, 2003), and Allan Snyder, PhD, of the University of Sydney (Evans, 2007). Among other uses, they employ Transcranial Magnetics (TCM) to retard left prefrontal cortex functioning in order to unleash dormant mental capabilities.

A lack of congruence between patterns at various levels will become problematic. When Robert Dilts, PhD, developed his concept of neurological levels (e.g. purpose, identity, values, competence, behavior, and environment), he was quick to point out problems when incongruity existed among them (Dilts et al., 1980). NLP techniques, which were designed to address this issue, are specifically intended to affect change by re-aligning patterns at the various levels. By merely eliminating conflicts between them, Dilts was able to show how various resistances could be avoided.

There have been many hypnosis techniques designed to bypass the aggregate-level resistance afforded by the right prefrontal cortex. Bypass techniques include those presented by David Elman (1964) to his students. Additionally, the linguistic techniques and homework assigned by Erickson to his patients (O'Hanlon, 1987) were intended to overload this problematic cortex. Despite being rivals, both of their approaches – like the impact of TCM – tended to allow the self-practitioner or clinician to begin the process of transformation without – or at least with less – interference.

Ignoring the more mechanical TCM technique or even the chemical influence on inhibitions when the patient uses medications and/or illegal drugs, direct and implicit suggestion through imagery or symbolic anchoring also has the potential of mollifying left prefrontal cortex resistance. The key is to use the power of the conscious mind through imagination and positively directed anticipation, which is closely related to the right prefrontal cortex and at a lower level, the right orbitofrontal cortex (R-OFC). As subordinate patterns are less resistive to transformation, our potential for change is greatly enhanced through bypassing our strongest resistant mechanism.

The International Hypnosis Research Institute is a member supported project involving integrative health care specialists from around the world. We provide information and educational resources to clinicians. Dr. Brunson is the author of over 150 self-help and clinical CD's and MP3's.

References:

Dilts, R, Grinder, J., Bandler, R., & DeLozier, J. (1980). Neuro-Linguistic Programming: Volume I The Study of the Structure of Subjective Experience. Cupertino, California: Meta Publications.

Dispenza, J. (2007). Evolve Your Brain: Creating Personal Realty and Conquering Emotional Addictions. Deerfield Beach, Florida: Health Communications, Inc.

Elman, D. (1964). Hypnotherapy. Glendale, California: Westwood Publishing Co.

Evans, S. (producer). (2007, November 14). Accidental Genius. [TV Video]. New York: National Geographic Channel.

O'Hanlon, W. H. (1987). Taproots: Underlying Principles of Milton Erickson's Therapy and Hypnosis. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.

Treffert, D. (1989). Extraordinary People: Understanding "Idiot Savants". New York: Harper & Row.

Walsh, V. & Pascual-Leone, A. (2003). Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: A Neurochronemetrics of Mind. Boston: MIT Press.