The Meta Model Part 2: Deep Structure

The Happy Hypnotist, Deep Structure and the Meta Model Part 2

Deep structure and surface structure: why is this all useful to know you ask? For me, it is absolutely fascinating to know I do this! Of course, like you, I did not think I really did this to a great degree, though it was easy to notice it in others. Welcome aboard.

Last time we looked at the origins of the meta model and introduced how we all delete, distort and generalise the information we process. Let’s now take it a bit further and get a bit more structured.

 The meta model is designed to teach the listener how to hear and respond to the form of the speaker’s communication.  This model allows you to respond in a way to obtain the fullest meaning from the communication.  Using the meta model you can discover the richness and limits of the information as well as the modelling processes the speaker is using.

 Deep Structure and Surface Structure

At a deep level of thought, a speaker has complete knowledge of what he wishes to communicate to someone else. This is called the deep structure and operates at an unconscious level. In order to be efficient in his verbal or written communication, we unconsciously delete, generalise or distort our inner thoughts based on beliefs and values, memories, decisions (limiting), strategies, what we want you to hear, etc. What is finally said or written (surface structure) is only a small subset of the original thought and may be ambiguous or confusing and lead to miscommunication and very often does.

 Why is this all useful to know you ask?  For me, it is absolutely fascinating to know I do this!  Of course, like you, I did not think I really did this to a great degree, though it was easy to notice it in others.   Are we really this bad at communicating?  Actually we are really good at communicating what we think we would like to communicate, though not necessarily what the truth of our experience is.  This is why reading someone else’s diary is so fascinating, naughty and forbidden, because to know, to really know what is at the deep structure level of another human being is all consuming. 

 To illustrate deep structure and surface structure and why it is important to be aware of the distinction, let’s assume you are my therapist. Before saying or writing a word and often in a blink of an eye, my inner thoughts (deep structure) are unconsciously filtered through my model of the world (beliefs and values, etc.) without my conscious appreciation, of course.

 I might say to you something like, “My family doesn’t appreciate what I do.” Which is the offering of the surface structure of my communication. You, as my friend and therapist take in my words and at a deep level of thought (your deep structure), filter what I have said through your beliefs and values, memories, decisions and then you may say (surface structure) something such as “I know exactly what you are saying and here is what you should do.”

 Really, however, you do not.  I have not said what I really mean and you are doing your best to help me, though that advice is purely based on your own map of the world.  With the best of intentions, you have no idea how to help me, because I have not given you enough information.  I have not told you the truth.

 This is not to say that anybody is purposely lying.  It is just that we throw away words so flippantly and others are so wanting to be helpful, it all gets very confusing, very quickly and nobody feels understood.

 Worse still, this may result in an argument because I feel you do not understand me and are always telling me what to do and I may become more entrenched in continuing with my limiting beliefs and behaviours as you adamantly stick to your own views too. What a shame.  I am (kind of) asking for help and you are doing what you think is your utmost to help and we are at loggerheads. 

 What do you do?  Well, a good approach is to realise I am not communicating very well and have a little empathy, knowing that emotional states blur communication and it is really how I feel that I need support with.  You could be well advised just to get very curious about what I have said and to ask questions for both of us to gain a better appreciation of my deep structure.

 Of course only do this by invitation, as you feel your way asking one or two questions and if you get the ‘back off’ face as I call it, when you intuitively know you have overstepped the mark, outstayed your welcome or the like, stop.

 If I really want help (and, by the way, many times we do not, we just want a sympathetic ear or someone to validate that we are in the right and the rest of the world is of course entirely wrong because you are my friend after all) then I will accept and perhaps encourage your further delving into my private world.

 Once we have this clarity, you are in a better position to provide advice. What often happens is that when I, as the client, get clarity on the issue and what needs to be done, I do not need your advice, but simply your continued support and curiosity. You, in essence, merely help me discover the path from my surface structure to my deep structure of language through questioning, sounds easy doesn’t it?

 This is why I tell my students that this really is an easy job.  The tricky bit is to lay off!  The tricky bit is to hold back when you want to gush out all your advice. The clever bit is to worm your way around to the client, or friend, discovering the solution that you think you knew from the start.  When I have my penny dropping moment and offer the solution you have crafted a path for me to discover by your clever questioning, we are cooking with gas.

 The Meta Model provides with a structure, with a firm set of questions to assist the person we are helping (client) to move from the surface structure of their communication to an understanding of their deep structure, which is unconscious beliefs, values, decisions. This is not about finding the right answers but having a better understanding of your client’s model of the world, knowing that the right answers are always elusive and in a constant state of flux.   So if you want to understand your flux filled client and your flux filled mind, we will continue to examine this meta model in the next part with why not to say why!

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