A practical study on reducing vague fear of failure and improving self-acceptance using mental imagery and perceptual position in neuro-linguistic programming

Abstract

The study examined a mental model of vague failure using two types of neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) techniques to reduce fear of vague failure. An intervention group of 236 participants was compared with a control group of 105 participants using three measures: the AMS-R, the short version of the POMS, and self-acceptance. After a one-hour session, positive effects were seen in terms of decreasing fear of failure, increasing self-acceptance (e.g., satisfaction with themselves and their way of life), and reducing stress (e.g., tension, anxiety, and confusion). The effects were still seen one month later. Our results showed that NLP techniques can reframe the meaning of vague failure, enabling patients to suppress emerging stressors and increase self-acceptance.