Norman Vincent Peale, the influential author of The Power of Positive Thinking, and the founders of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Richard Bandler and John Grinder, are widely regarded as pioneers in the fields of self-help and personal development. Despite their differing approaches, Peale’s emphasis on positivity and the core techniques of NLP share a striking similarity: both oversimplify human psychology and rely on the power of suggestion to create change.
However, what often goes unnoticed is how these methods, rooted in pseudoscience and unsupported theories, can lead to unintended and sometimes harmful outcomes. This article explores how Peale and NLP practitioners use the appeal to authority, despite their lack of scientific rigor, and the potential dangers of trying to change people’s mindsets through these oversimplified frameworks.
Norman Vincent Peale, NLP, and Donald Trump: Rewriting Truth Through Repetition
Norman Vincent Peale’s work had a profound impact on one of the most visible figures in modern political history: Donald Trump. Raised under the influence of Peale’s teachings, Trump internalised Peale’s message of relentless positivity, self-confidence, and belief in personal success. Peale’s sermons at New York’s Marble Collegiate Church became the foundation of Trump’s worldview, where positivity and belief in oneself could overcome any obstacle.
This approach to reality-creation through repetition—saying something so many times that it becomes true in people’s minds—became a cornerstone of Trump’s rhetoric. He mastered the art of repetition and reframing, where repeating statements, even false ones, would gradually shift the public’s perception of reality. By constantly repeating the same claims, Trump used a tactic that mirrors a dangerous aspect of NLP: the strategic manipulation of language to reshape how people think and perceive truth.
NLP, particularly in the hands of figures like Tony Robbins, uses techniques of repetition, anchoring, and reframing to influence behavior and thought. These methods, while presented as positive tools for personal growth, can have a darker side when used irresponsibly. When someone repeats the same message, especially in a position of power or authority, it can alter the way people perceive the world—even if the message is not based in fact.
In Trump’s case, Peale’s influence created a philosophy where success could be willed into existence through belief and self-promotion. This belief led to the dangerous idea that if you repeat a message long enough—no matter how detached from reality—it becomes accepted as truth. In politics, this approach can distort facts, muddy public discourse, and manipulate the collective consciousness.
The Link to NLP: Selling the Same Lie Until It Becomes Truth
NLP, although not directly related to Peale’s teachings, uses similar techniques to influence thought and behavior. Practitioners of NLP claim that they can help people “reprogram” their minds to achieve success. However, just like Peale’s positive thinking, NLP can be used to manipulate others by using language and repetition to alter beliefs and perceptions.
Bandler and Grinder, who had some background in psychology, relied heavily on their association with the field to present NLP as a legitimate psychological practice, giving it an aura of credibility. While their work was not scientifically validated by peers, the appeal to authority allowed them to position themselves as experts in behavioral change. Many modern NLP practitioners continue this practice, presenting themselves as “mind experts” without the scientific or ethical foundation that psychology demands.
When used incorrectly, NLP can create a similar reality distortion to what we see in Peale’s influence on Trump. Through techniques like reframing and anchoring, a practitioner can reshape a client’s perception of events, leading them to believe a new narrative about their life or capabilities. But this manipulation of perception can go beyond personal growth—it can influence clients into believing in false realities or harmful ideologies if the practitioner is more concerned with control than genuine self-awareness. Repeated messaging, especially when unchallenged, has the power to rewrite how someone sees themselves or the world, much like how Trump’s repetition of falsehoods altered the public’s view of reality.
The Dangers of Oversimplification: The Unpredictable Consequences of Mindset Manipulation
Whether through Peale’s power of positivity or NLP’s reprogramming techniques, the underlying issue is the same: both methods oversimplify human psychology and neglect the deeper factors that influence behavior. The dangers of this approach are multifaceted.
When individuals, like Trump, use the power of repetition to reshape public perception, or when NLP practitioners use linguistic techniques to manipulate a person’s beliefs, the results are unpredictable. Both methods plant seeds in the mind that can grow into entrenched beliefs, even if those beliefs are not based on reality. This can lead to distorted perceptions of success, truth, or personal responsibility.
For example, an individual who is trained to always reframe their negative experiences into positive ones might suppress legitimate emotional pain or trauma, resulting in long-term psychological harm. Instead of addressing real issues, people are encouraged to rewire their mindset without understanding the underlying complexities of their emotional or mental states. This approach, which is heavily reliant on suggestion, can cause people to blame themselves when they fail to achieve the “results” promised by positive thinking or NLP techniques.
In the hands of an untrained or unethical practitioner, NLP can be used to manipulate someone’s mindset for personal gain, much like a political figure might use language to sway public opinion. By repeating the same message over and over, whether it’s a personal mantra or a political slogan, individuals can be led to accept ideas that might not serve their best interests. This is where the danger lies: in the power of suggestion and repetition to reshape reality.
The Illusion of Control and the Burden of Responsibility
Both Peale’s positive thinking and NLP techniques offer a seductive illusion of control: the idea that people can master their lives and circumstances solely through changing their mindset. However, this places an enormous burden of responsibility on the individual, suggesting that failure is a personal shortcoming rather than a result of external circumstances or deeper emotional needs.
This is particularly harmful in situations like those observed in politics. The repetition of false or misleading information can lead to mass acceptance of a distorted reality, where facts become irrelevant and personal belief reigns supreme. Similarly, in personal development, if the desired change doesn’t happen, individuals may feel as though they have failed, when in reality, the method itself is flawed. The failure is not in the individual, but in the oversimplified system being sold as the solution.
The Real Cost of Oversimplification and Repetition
Norman Vincent Peale’s power of positivity and NLP’s techniques share the same fundamental flaw: they reduce the complexity of human psychology to simplistic, one-sise-fits-all solutions. When someone like Trump internalises these ideas and uses them on a public scale, it demonstrates how dangerous it can be to repeat falsehoods until they are accepted as truth. Similarly, when NLP is used to manipulate mindsets without regard for the deeper emotional and psychological needs of the individual, it can lead to unintended harm.
Both Peale and NLP practitioners rely on the appeal to authority to sell their ideas, and both ultimately fail to provide a realistic, grounded approach to human psychology. The real danger lies in the unpredictable outcomes of mindset manipulation, whether in a political arena or a personal development session. Repeating a lie long enough may make it feel like truth, but that false truth can distort reality and cause significant harm in the process. As a society, we must be critical of these methods and recognise the real psychological, emotional, and social costs of oversimplifying the human mind.