Ivan Pavlov Classical Conditioning Theory and NLP Anchoring

Ivan Pavlov the Russian Physiologist while working on dogs, he accidently discovered this conditioning. Where something is associated with some routine behavior, actions or patterns, and when that associated key is triggered, unconsciously it reminds or drives to routine behavior, actions or patterns. In NLP language, it is called anchoring — the key becomes the anchor.

And, this key or anchoring can be used to stimulate or to stop any process of behavior or actions.

To stimulate into action

Example-1.When a dog comes to me, I tap my foot two times…and repeat this process for few times whenever that dog comes to me, now if that dog is sitting somewhere, and I tap my foot and dog listens to it – dog will come to me.

To stop from action

Example-2. Someone laughs at me, I just touch left shoulder with my right hand with little expression; every time that particular person laughs at me, I touch my left shoulder with my right hand. After such few repetition my hands movement will be associated with his laughing. And, when he is about to laugh … just before his laughing, if I touch my left shoulder with right hand – he will stop.

Don’ts and Dos

Example-3. When somebody becomes angry, and we want to see him/her happy; in this process we sometimes, unknowingly set those anchors or keys – that further ruin the situation. If somebody is angry – change the efforts to make him happy every time, don’t repeat the same effort. Or, trigger those keys or anchors of the situations where s/he used to feel happy with you.

→Related: What is NLP?