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Mind-Reading at its Worst - Adam Schiff Parody - NLP Meta Model Analysis

An NLP Meta Model analysis of the Adam Schiff 'parody' regarding the Trump Ukraine affair.

By L. Michael Hall, 201 Neurons #44 September 30, 2019

This week there was a big political hullabaloo about a phone call President Trump had with the President of the Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.  Finally a transcript was released and then a so-called “whistleblower” report (so-called because he was not a direct witness, but got the information second-hand and even third-hand from “the media”) had been classified as biased against President Trump and for a rival.  Also it was written in the form of a lawyer brief.

Regardless of that, the Congressional Hearing was televised publically.  Normally, a chairman of such a committee would begin by quoting the facts of the case, establishing the context, and invite the witness to make an opening statement.  But to my absolute amazement, Representative Adam Schiff, the chairman of the committee and a strong anti-Trump democrat began by reading an account that he completely made-up.  Later he admitted that it was a “parody” (“a work of close imitation for comic effect or in ridicule; feeble or ridiculous imitation”).  But he failed to note that in the hearing.  He presented it in the context of a serious Congressional Hearing as if it was real.  It wasn’t.  He created a comic imitation of the President’s phone conversation.  It was his projections.  Yes, you read that right.  He began with what he later said to Wolfe Blizer on CNN was mockery.  “I was mocking the President’s behavior.”

Now this “parody” was full of statements that the President never said and never would say.  Yet Schiff made up a skit that would have been more appropriate for Saturday Night Live than a Congressional Hearing.  So the question I was immediately pondering as I listened to it was, “Why would anyone do that?”

Now what he presented, if the parody had been true, would have condemned the President.  Could that have been the reason?  Was he trying to manipulate those present in the hearing room and all of those watching by setting a frame that assumed his guilt?  After all, even if you admit, “It’s a parody,” once the information is out—few people can simply dismiss it, set it aside, and not let it influence them.  The NLP Communication Model views this communication ploy as manipulative and therefore unethical.

I’m writing about this because Schiff’s statements which assume he knows President Trump’s motives and intentions is the most overt example I’ve ever seen.  In linguistics we call that mind-reading.  In psychology we call that projection.  And the problem with projection is that it always reveals much more about the speaker than the speaker’s object.  As an unconscious defense mechanism, it reveals things about the speaker which are typically the speaker’s blind-spots.  That’s why anyone familiar with this basic psychological fact is careful about attributing emotions, motives, and intentions to others.

Now as if that was bad enough, what I thought was worse was that no one called his hand on it.  Later various political pundits on various news programs brought it up and addressed it a little bit.  But for the most part, the most unworthy and unethical mind-reading and projection statements was made ... and no one called Representative Schiff on it.  Not even the witness, Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguir, challenged it.

If I had been there, I would have confronted him about his mind-reading and projection and challenged him about that languaging being manipulative. [See the NLP Meta Model]  Putting words, motives, emotions, and intentions into anyone’s mouth— words that if they had been spoken would convict that person of wrong-doing turns the whole information-gathering process upside-down.  Instead of asking open-ended questions searching for facts and truth, it starts from the assumption of wrong-doing, and asks leading, rhetorical, and assumptive questions which, if the person answers them, accepts all of the assumptive frames.  This is always destructive to communication.  It undermines critical thinking.  It shuts down a search for facts.  It forces people into a game of manipulation and one-upmanship that is more appropriate a seventh-grade boys locker room.  It is shameful for grown-up men and women.

Here is the made-up parody from Adam Schiff:

“And what is the President’s response — well it reads like a classic organized crime shake down [Schiff’s judgment and frame about the President’s response].  In essence [well, in Schiff’s view],  what the President Trump communicates is this [mind-reading]:   We’ve been very good to your country.  Very good.  No other country has done as much as we have.   But you know what, I don’t see much reciprocity here. [A frame so it sounds like a quid pro quo which is what the investigation is suppose to be investigating, not assuming.]   You know what I mean? [Hypnotic invitation to set in and experience the assumptions.]    I hear what you want.  I have a favor I want from you though.  And I’m going to say this only seven times, so you better listen good. [Seven times suggests the President is patronizing and treating the Ukraine President as a child, a silly and ridiculous mockery.]    I want you to make up dirt on my political opponent, understand? [mind-reading, “dirt” is imposed and made-up by Schiff, rather than investigate the facts.]    Lots of dirt, on this and on that. [Repetition for hypnotic effect.]    I’m going to put you in touch with people, and not just any people.  I’m going to put you in touch with the Attorney General of the United States — my Attorney General, Bill Barr — he’s got the whole weight of American law enforcement behind him [mind-reading and projecting intentions].  And I’m going to put you in touch with Rudy, you’re going to love him.  Trust me.  You know what I’m asking, so I’m only going to say this a few more times, in a few more ways. [mind-reading and mockery.]    And don’t call me again.  I’ll call you when you’ve done what I asked. [a presupposition by Schiff to conclude the parody.]

Of course, the actual transcript of the phone call says none of this, nor does it even suggest or imply any of this. In terms of undermining effective communication, there’s nothing better than  mind-reading and projecting one’s own assumptions.  Click this link to read the actual transcript. __ Author L. Michael Hall

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