This suggestion, which you will read probably about the exact time you take your first bite of the mass-
produced burger, is that the burger is delicious.
But the statement also makes two devious presuppositions:
Firstly by saying “Unique?” they are presupposing that the statement has been made that the burger
is unique, and they are answering your statement.
Secondly, they are presupposing that YOU made that statement by saying “You might even say it’s deli-
cious!” In fact, I did not state that the burger was unique (it certainly isn’t) nor do I believe it is there-
fore delicious. It is simply a mild form of hypnosis in an attempt to drive future sales.
Presuppositions in Hypnosis
Presuppositions are the foundation of hypnosis induction. NLP master Derren Brown advises that the
best method of hypnosis induction is a rapid series of presuppositions. The format of choice is “As and
So” - which is a template that can be applied to anything that is happening and turn it into evidence
that the hypnotic state is increasing. For example:
“As you sit there in your seat you feel more relaxed, so too you notice your eyelids becoming heavier.
And as your eyes become heavier and heavier, so too they become harder and harder to keep open.”
Each of these statements take a truth (you are sitting in your seat) so you are bound to feel relaxed,
and the statement presupposes that when you feel more relaxed you also feel your eyelids becoming
heavier. And because you are feeling more relaxed, you automatically accept that your eyelids must
be getting heavier. And so it happens. Although these presuppositions are stated only slightly deviated
from the truth, they become very powerful suggestions that are increasingly easy to follow.
Presuppositions in Conversation
Let’s imagine you’re talking to a friend, having a pleasant conversation. And now, a third person comes
along who you know to be fairly abrasive. What do you say to get them to leave, without seeming to
be rude or inviting a confrontation? Think about it, what kind of thing would you say?
A lot of us will end up saying - and I’m sure we’ve all done this a few times before - something along
the lines of “Well it was good seeing you again, I’ll see you at the next one I’m sure, haha?” then hold
out your hand for them to shake it goodbye. More than likely, you’ll add some body language signals
by standing next to your friend and facing in the same direction as them.
When you put it straight out there, it’s quite obviously a presupposition that they are moving along,
and you’re saying goodbye. Quite often, the intruder will want to mirror your politeness and go along
with your presupposition, then wander away feeling mysteriously like they’ve been kicked out of
something, but probably won’t be able to put their finger on it.
Okay! Maybe my example is a bit rough around the edges but I’m sure I’ve made my point - presup-
positions are powerfully subtle suggestion tools. In fact, most of us already use them daily, but maybe
don’t realise they are called presuppositions.