Basic Hypnotic Language Patterns 5: Scope Ambiguity - by Matthew Wingett

Matthew Wingett describes how to use the Scope Ambiguity in hypnosis to deepen trance more effectively.

 

 

The Scope Ambiguity is part of the set of Language Patterns defined by Richard Bandler and John Grinder in Patterns of The Hypnotic Techniques of Milton H. Erickson (Vol I)* as Ambiguity.

 

Ambiguity is a very straightforward language pattern, in which a communication appears to convey a choice of two or more meanings because of  the structure of the sentence that conveys it.

 

You find Scope Ambiguities around you all the time. The classic one that I first encountered when I was a little boy was the joke advertisement, as follows:

 

 

The basic way that the Scope Ambiguity works is to create a sentence with clauses (bits of sentences) whose inter-relation is unclear.

 

The three clauses I want to look at above are:

 

 

It's pretty clear how the ambiguity works in this case. Clause iii could be paired with clause i  to give:

 

 

Or, clause iii could be paired with clause ii, to give:

 

 

Another classic Scope Ambiguity with a double entendre effect is the one given by Richard Bandler and John Grinder in Patterns 1:

 

 

Oo-er!

 

The ambiguity here is as follows: is the picture going to be one of a person without clothes on, or is the person drawing the picture not going to have any clothes on while they are drawing it..?

 

So, these are humorous examples of the Scope Ambiguity. But what sort of language would you use for hypnotic effect? Well, one that Richard Bandler and John Grinder record Milton H Erickson using was:

 

"Speaking to you as a child, I want you to imagine a time when…"

 

Here, the ambiguity is unclear as to whether the person speaking is somehow childlike in their speech, or whether the person being addressed is somehow childlike. This confusion allows the whole nature of childhood be addressed in a more subtle way and at a less conscious level than saying directly: "I want you to have childlike thoughts." In this second case, the lack of subtlety and directness actually seems to work against the desired effect. At least they do on me. Try them on yourself and see what you think.

 

Another Scope Ambiguity is:

 

"Feeling the chair beneath your body so much softer…"

 

or: 

 

"Imagining yourself, here and now, in a room and relaxing…"

 

The sentence seems to make sense.  But am I imagining myself here and now while I really am relaxing, or am I only imagining myself relaxing while I am here, now?

 

What fun!

 

So, that's the way the Scope Ambiguity works. And as you are working at finding other examples of this pattern, considering how easy they are to find, you will enjoy yourself much more than you thought you would…

 

Well, that's it for this month.

 

Till next time!

 

Copyright 2009, Matthew Wingett.