This final filter is more systemic as it describes the way in which human beings communicate with each other within a given context.
It is made up of three interdependent elements:
- IP – Internal Process (thinking): our thoughts, internal strategies and beliefs.
- IS – Internal State (feeling): the emotions we are experiencing (the “affect” in psychology), our values and motivation.
- EB – External Behaviour (doing): what we do, our activities and actions and how we carry ourselves physically.
None of these are superior to the others although the original developers of NLP and others have often expressed a belief that one or the other are dominant. Our view is that they all play an equal part although in a particular set of circumstances one will provide the entry point for an intervention. That entry point in turn will cause ripples in the other two.
The major benefit of recognising this filter is that it enables coaches and facilitators to choose the type of intervention or technique that is most likely to be effective for that client.