Examples of When To Use NLP Anchoring
Anchoring is often used in seduction (covered later). The most obvious example is when one party
asks the other about a happy memory. When the seductee is “in the memory” - ie they are smiling or
laughing - the seductor uses either a distinct gesture or a light touch on the arm as an anchor. Whatev-
er the anchor is, it mustn’t be too noticeable, otherwise it will appear unusual and the effect will fail.
Later on, the seductor can use that anchor to make the seductee feel the same kind of happiness as
before, when the seductor is getting closer. The seductee will recall a happy feeling, but will now as-
sociate that happy feeling with being close to the seductor. It’s a bit of a swindle, but it won’t work if
there is no attraction in the first place.
Personally, I use anchoring as a martial arts coach to improve my students’ feeling of reward when
they do well. After I spar (fight) with one of my students, we shake hands, every time. However, if my
student has been pressed and puts up a good fight, I will add a light punch on the shoulder during
the handshake. Sparring can be intense, and is often accompanied by adrenaline, and the associated
endorphins (pleasurable feeling).
By using the punch on the arm anchor repeatedly, my students begin to associate it with the pleasure
of post-adrenaline endorphins. Using the same NLP idea behind Pavlov’s dogs, I can eventually induce
those same endorphins, just by doing that light punch. This is very useful when students are nervous /
stressed before a tournament fight or grading.
Try it now, or before you go to bed tonight. Squeeze your fingers twice as you did before. It is more dif-
ficult to do on yourself, so perhaps try this technique with a willing partner. As with all NLP techniques,
practice makes perfect!