frames+2011

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To Frame 0r Not To Reframe!Changing a Perspective by Altering One’s Mental Map.

frame is a psychological device that offers a perspective and manipulatessalience in order to influence subsequent judgment.

A frame “offers a perspective” by managing the viewer’s alignment in relation to

the issue and inviting the observer to view the topic from a certain perspective. It is

like labelling ground beef as “75% lean” rather than “25% fat,” or like saying that

someone important “is here for two weeks” & “is here only for two weeks”.

A frame “manipulates salience” and encourages the observer to attend to a feature

of the stimulus within the frame, while disregarding other features of that same stimulus

which lie outside the frame, like referring to someone as “generous” or “intellectual”

or “athletic” emphasizes one particular feature of that person. Perception may then

become organized around the label.

A frame influences “subsequent judgment.” The frame precedes a persuasive attempt,and implies a certain organization for the information that follows like asking someoneto paint a picture that would fit within it. A successful psychological frame operatesin precisely this fashion. Information received after the frame is delivered may beorganized and resized to fit within the parameters established by the frame.

Frames in NLP provide a focus or guidance for our thoughts and activities, acontext for exploring other possibilities or a common understanding. Often we usetoo narrow a frame (or focus) and lock ourselves into behaviours that do notsupport us or miss opportunities/possibilities.

A frame not only contains, but also constrains. A man who thought he was deadand when shown that he bleeds said “Oh even dead people bleed!!” “Frames” referto the mental structures or templates that we use to understand something, theybecome our “frame of reference.” “Frames” are concepts, are ideas or mental frames.With them, we register “meaning” (semantics) in our “neurology.” This turns mereideas into “programs”, become felt, embodied in our muscles and become our “way ofbeing in the world”, our operative system.

Much of what NLP deals with the concerned change- particularly changingperceptions (the way you think about things or the way you ‘see’ things). Framesform part of the system of filters through which we represent things internally. The

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‘frame’ you set, consciously or unconsciously, reflects the way you perceive something,or the way you look at it.

Think about anything and we automatically, quickly, and unthinkingly set it insome frame. By framing, we establish the classes and categories by which we thenthink. Without such framing, we would not know how to even think about something.We frame by defining, associating, remembering, and using various reference points.

When it comes to frames of reference, whoever sets the frame controls the subsequentexperience. There’s that much “magic” in frames. Frames have that much influencein our lives over our perceptions, creativity, and ability to operate at peak performancein our businesses. We might even paraphrase the old proverb, “As a person frames, sohe or she is.” A very powerful and profound aspect of frames is namely, their invisibility.Their very invisibility, in fact, gives them their power.

Because the way we “frame” things…that is, the frames that we put around events,words, gestures, people, memories, imaginations, etc determine what that thingmeans…and therefore how we perceive it, feel about it, and respond to it. If thereforewe have any response, feeling, internal conflict, self-sabotage, etc., then it is a functionof our frames.

Frames are the mental stuff that governs, informs, elicits, and creates our states. Ourmind-body states of awareness result from our frames. What frame do you have aboutfood or exercise? That frame as your internal representations puts you into a state.

“NLP is an attitude.” We have been discovering just how crucial Attitude is in makingthe patterns work; especially making them work for us. Attitude is everything inasmuchas attitude describes our Frame of Mind... and so our Frames of Meaning and Reference.

Types of frames

Outcome Frame

An outcome frame provides a focus for what you want to achieve, the ensuingeffects and the resources required to achieve it. You should set an outcome for allof your activities.

Organizations are notorious for having meetings all the time. Often people have ameeting without really an outcome in mind and as a result, a number of peoplemeet for one or two hours or maybe a half day and when they exit the meetingoften they are not clear on what has been decided, what is expected of them, etc.Clearly defined outcomes provide you with a context for making decisions andassessing your behaviours.



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An outcome frame is the opposite of a problem frame. A problem frame isfocused on what is wrong or needs to be fixed rather than what is sought after.

Ecology Frame

A person, who pursues his outcome without regard for the impact on othersystems (e.g., body systems, family, work environment, community), has not takeninto account the ecology frame. For an outcome that you have at work, what isthe effect on your co-workers and can you mitigate any negative effects? Is theoutcome that you have for your house compatible with the needs/expectations ofyour neighbours/community? Is your outcome congruent with other outcomes thatyou have or plan to set?

Evidence Frame

How will you know when you have achieved your outcome? What will you see,hear, feel or experience?

The evidence frame is used as a gauge to assess how well you are progressingtowards your outcome and to know when your outcome has been achieved. As aresult you will know if corrective action should be taken or if a new or modifiedoutcome should be set.

As if Frame

This frame has many applications and is based on acting ‘as if ’ a desired state oroutcome has been achieved or ‘as if’ someone else is giving you information: Foran outcome, act as if you have already achieved your outcome. Live your dreamsnow and allow reality to catch up!

When negotiating or problem solving, you can explore other possibilities bysaying, “Let’s proceed as if I agree to this demand or take your proposed course ofaction. What would you do for me, or what would happen as a result?”

For project planning, you may wish act as if the project has been successfullycompleted and then ask what steps were necessary to reach this outcome. Thisapproach may highlight some important information that is not obvious whenplanning from the present.

Backtrack Frame

Used to check agreement during and at the conclusion of a meeting, to update anew arrival or to restart a discussion. Backtracking is accomplished by reviewing





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the available information using the keywords and tonality of those who broughtthe information forward.

We all filter information differently and may come to significantly differentconclusions. Backtracking is a way to ensure everyone has the same understandingof what was discussed and decided and helps to maintain a course towards thedesired outcome.

Just as a picture frame puts borders or boundaries on what you can see in a picture,the frames of reference that you choose as a result of your beliefs about yourself andothers, your perceived role in life, your perceived limitations in skills/abilities, etc.can limit what you see as possible or can open up all sorts of possibilities.

You (and if you allow them, others) are continually setting timeframes, boundaries,limits, etc. on what you can and can’t do - often without any real thought aboutthe consequences or if the limitations are true.

Reframing

Reality takes on meaning by how we frame it. What you see at any given time dependsnot only on what’s there but also on what you choose to see. We put frames onpictures; we also put frames on words. How you say something is often just as importantas what you’re saying. The “frame” can be your tone of voice, gestures, body language,or the particular words you use.

Changing the frame of an experience can have a major influence on how youperceive, interpret and react to that experience. Changing the frame of referencewhere content is put in another context is called reframing in NLP. The purpose ofreframing is to help a person experience their actions, the impact of their beliefs,etc. from a different perspective (frame) and potentially be more resourceful orhave more choice in how they react.

Frames are like labels. What’s the difference between a used car and a previouslyowned car? My problems weren’t problems any more. They became challenges.Reframing is an NLP concept, which, simply put, means “placing a content intoanother context, so that it may have a completely different meaning”. A typicalexample of this is that “this glass of water is half empty” can be “reframed” as “thisglass of water is half full”, without changing the real situation in any way. We reframewhen we shift how we think about something and use a different reference structure.Then we put a piece of experience or information into a different classification orcategory. We look at it from a different perspective. This initiates creativity as we puta new spin on it



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Your frame of reference differs and so does the meaning. Changing the frame meanschanging the meaning. And changing the meaning means changing the effect of acommunication, behaviour or event.

You can use Reframing in all sorts of situations. You may find it difficult to changeanother person’s behaviour, or indeed your own. But you can always change the wayyou think or the way you see things -even if just a bit at a time. Reframing changesthe way you feel and therefore what you do. E.g.;

Spontaneous - UnpredictableFunny - ChildishConfident - Arrogant

This is verbal one-word reframing, a simple device you can use to find the silverlining in someone else’s problem and help with a new approach. “How can thisproblem be framed in another way? How can it become an opportunity? How canthis problem be taking care of you in a positive way?” When you’ve found the reframe,feed it back. The “problem” becomes an “opportunity”.

Reframing is a new way of seeing or experiencing something by changing the framearound it. Instead of trying to solve the problem, we redefine it. Instead of changingthe response and getting a new response to the old stimulus we leave the response asit is and simply change the meaning of the problem.

We don’t change the behaviour, as we did by interrupting the stimulus responseconnection and replacing it with a new response. That kind of problem solving is

called first-order change: new behavior replaces the old, and the original “problem”

is solved. (If you have a headache, you take a painkiller to get rid of it.)

Reframing is second order change. Here, we don’t change the response; we change

the meaning of the problem. It’s not problem solving in the old sense anymore; we’re

looking for the root of the problem, taking the symptom (or the behavior or the

response) simply as a sign or indication of the process it represents. With reframing,

we change the meaning of the problem (the headache). We use it as a way of

communicating with a part of our unconscious self, so that we can acknowledge this

part and bring it into consciousness. We ask: What is the headache trying to do for

me? What is the positive intention of the headache? Trying to get you to rest, relax,

slow down, take care of yourself.

That’s the positive intention, whether it’s taking effect or not. But now the headache

isn’t simply a problem to get rid of. You understand the headache in relation to yourself,

your work, your lifestyle- and the headache’s meaning becomes a message about

taking better care of yourself.





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Reframes can affect the context of the situation. For instance, you can change theplace or time. Just think of another con-text in which the behaviour might seempositive or useful, or where the behaviour would appear in a different light. Or youcan change the essence or actual content of the situation. For instance, you canchange the behaviour or circumstances, or simply give something a different meaning.

Most humor involves some sort of reframe. The punch line of a joke instantly changesthe meaning and the emotion that goes with it.

Content and Context Reframes; In NLP, there are two basic forms of reframes -content (or meaning) and a context reframes.

Content Reframe:

The content or meaning of a situation is determined by what you choose to focuson. A content reframe is useful for statements such as: ‘I get annoyed when myboss stands behind me while I am working.’ Notice how the person has taken thesituation and given it a specific meaning — which may or may not be true - and inso doing limits her resourcefulness and possible courses of action. To reframe thissituation, remember the NLP presupposition ‘Every behaviour has a positiveintention’ and ask questions such as:

What other meaning could the boss’ behaviour have? Or for what purpose doeshe do it? A possible reframe might be: ‘Is it possible he wants to help and does notknow how to offer his assistance in any other way?’

What is the positive value in this behaviour? The positive value could be relatedto the boss’ behaviour (as above) or it could be related to the speaker’s behaviour.A possible reframe might be: ‘Isn’t it great that you know your boundaries and arenot prepared to allow someone to violate them?’

If you are experiencing a physical problem (including phobias and allergies), youmay ask yourself, ‘Is this problem useful to me in some way?’ ‘Is there some otherway that I can get this same result without having to have the physical problem?’

Context Reframe:

Almost all behaviours are useful or appropriate in some context. Interrupting aspeaker by standing up and offering your view in the middle of her lecture may bejudged as inappropriate. To do this same behaviour at the end of the presentationin order to provide a different perspective may be welcomed by all present.

A context reframe is useful for statements such as: ‘I am too pushy.’ or ‘I wish I didnot focus on what could go wrong.’ In this type of situation, your client has



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assumed that this type of behaviour has no value. You job is to discover when it isof value by asking yourself the question ‘When or where would this behaviour beuseful or viewed as a resource?’ A possible reframe might be: ‘Isn’t that a great skillto have when you need to get things done or to avoid potential problems?’ Onceyou have your client more resourceful, you can then assist him to discoverbehaviours that may be more appropriate in other situations.

When presenting a reframe to another person: Make sure you have rapport andtheir permission to offer it. If you present the reframe in the form of a question or ametaphor (story), it will most likely be more fully considered by your client than ifyou present it as a statement of fact. An unexpected change of content or contextturns the meaning on its head, and the resulting surprise and unfamiliarity createshumour.

Since we can only ever experience a filtered version of reality and we unconsciouslydistort things all the time, changing the meaning, whether through the context orcontent, means changing the way you react and behave.Taking another perspective can instantly change how you feel, thus indirectlyaffecting your behaviour and outcomes. Reframing therefore offers a low-effort routeto results. Get into the habit of asking: ‘What could this mean?’, ‘In what circumstanceswould this appear different?’ or ‘In what context might this behaviour seem positiveand useful?’ Several reframes may quickly come to mind. The frame you adoptdetermines your state, because it determines your perception.

Our brains have to give meaning to things; they cannot bear to leave anythingunexplained. So we put everything into a mental pigeonhole. Unfortunately weoften ‘file’ things instinctively in the most obvious, comfortable or convenient frame,rather than representing them realistically or rationally. This tends to happen quicklyand sometimes unconsciously, making you feel strongly about something withoutknowing why.

Reframing, in effect, ‘re-files’ experience to better reflect present reality’, or yourchoices as to possible reality. You can always choose to reframe. You have the choiceof thinking differently. Using reframing techniques, you can begin to choose yourstate of mind.

In reframing you choose what an event means to you. When things go wrong yousearch for what is good about the situation and give that most attention. You look forhow you can use the situation rather than be a victim of it! It’s as simple as that.

At all stages in life we have choice in how we are affected by events. It’s not theevent itself that affects us emotionally. What affects us is how we respond to the





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event. Reframing is the art actively choosing our response. It means we do not engagein regretting or resenting.

We all frame and reframe because this describes how we think, represent information,use language, and create meaning. Initially, we frame because our minds do the workthat “minds” do (i.e. process information, reason, draw conclusions, etc.) by usingframes-of-reference. Whenever you think, you refer to something and reference otherideas to make sense of it.

The ability to frame and reframe grows from the awareness that nothing has “meaning”in and of itself, but that meaning in the human sense emerges as a mental construct-a way of thinking about something.

Reframing going on all around us:

Politicians are masters at reframing. It seems no matter what happens, they can puta positive spin on it for themselves or a negative spin for their opponents. .

Jokes are reframes - you are guided to think in one frame and then the frame(meaning or context) changes. How many psychologists does it take to change alight bulb? Answer: Only one and the light bulb must want to change! Fairy talesoften use reframes to help children see different perspectives or consequences -‘crying wolf’. An excuse is a reframe that attributes a different meaning or contextto your behaviours.

Respect and understand your frame, respect the other person’s world which isinfluenced by their frame. The outer world is influenced by the inner frame and soby changing the inner frame we can easily change the perception of the outerworld and mage to our advantage to get what we want.

So enjoys playing with frames and reframing!!!

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