There is a little-known secret about Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), a secret that even many students of NLP do not realize. This secret provides a deeper definition of NLP itself: NLP is a phenomenology. Every time NLP is described as “the study of the structure of subjective experience” (the subtitle of NLP: Volume I), it is, in fact, acknowledging its nature as a phenomenology. This phrase perfectly describes phenomenology — the exploration of the phenomena experienced internally by individuals as subjects of every experience. These phenomena are not the external territory but rather an individual’s map of that territory, subjectively constructed in their neurology.
NLP and the History of Phenomenology
Over the years, many have asked whether NLP is phenomenology or if it is connected to the historical movement of phenomenology. The answer to both is no. NLP emerged independently from the phenomenology movement. Yet, despite this independent origin, NLP can still be considered a phenomenology.
Phenomenology began in the 20th century as a philosophical movement with the goal of directly investigating and describing human phenomena as consciously experienced. Edmund Husserl and Martin Heidegger were among the first thinkers to develop this approach. Their aim was to engage with experience itself — separate from any theories, causal explanations, or even pre-existing meanings. The early phenomenologists wanted to examine experience freely, without preconceptions or assumptions.
The Concept of the “Lived Body”
Husserl viewed empathy as an apperception built upon the experiences of one’s own “lived body.” This concept refers to the body as experienced from within, not merely as an object. The body allows individuals to interact with the world — to reach out, grasp objects, and perceive from a unique point of view.
People experience their body as a duality: as an object (e.g., when touching one’s own hand) and as subjectivity (the sensation of being touched). This dual experience highlights the dynamic interplay between self and world.
Core Concepts in Phenomenology
Phenomenology emphasizes key concepts such as the Self, Others (inter-subjectivity), the World (or “life-world”), Intentionality, Time, Experience (states and emotions), Language, and Perception. This focus resembles the Matrix Model in NLP.
Inter-subjectivity shapes what individuals perceive as objective reality — meaning that what is experienced as objective is shared inter-subjectively. However, this does not mean objectivity is reduced to subjectivity. In the experience of inter-subjectivity, individuals see themselves as subjects among other subjects and as objects to others.
The Life-World: Our Background Horizon
The life-world (Lebenswelt in German) refers to the world people inhabit and experience. It serves as the background against which all objects appear, holding meaning only in relation to an individual’s subjective perspective. Phenomenology thus came to be seen as an embodied form of constructivism.
Merleau-Ponty and the Primacy of Perception
At the core of Maurice Merleau-Ponty’s philosophy is the idea that perception plays a foundational role in human experience. He understood perception as an ongoing dialogue between the lived body and the surrounding world. This interaction is both passive and active, as individuals attempt to express their perceived world in harmony with others.
Merleau-Ponty’s work influenced the integration of phenomenology with psychology and cognitive science. He argued that the body is not merely an object for study but a permanent condition of experience — an essential aspect of how individuals are open to the world.
Consciousness and Intentionality
Husserl emphasized that “all consciousness is consciousness of something,” distinguishing between the act of thought (noesis) and the object of thought (noema). This correlation forms the foundation for analyzing consciousness.
Merleau-Ponty further argued that embodiment signifies intentionality of the body, contrasting with mind-body dualism. As he famously stated, “Insofar as I have hands, feet, a body, I sustain around me intentions which are not dependent on my decisions and which affect my surroundings in a way that I do not choose” (1962, p. 440).
The Overlap Between NLP and Phenomenology
All of these ideas closely resemble those found in NLP. Both disciplines examine subjectivity — the inner world of human experience. Both aim to map this inner world as clearly and objectively as possible, minimizing bias and distortion.
Moreover, both disciplines focus on similar key categories: meaning, intention, state, self, power, others, time, and the world. When NLP and phenomenology are understood together, they can deeply enrich each other’s practice and insights.
Curated by Danielle Tan.
Reference:
- [Neurons] FW: 2025 Neurons #25 NLP AS PHENOMENOLOGY by L. Michael Hall, Ph.D. Executive Director, ISNS.
