Van Tharp Paradox....

[kiwi_trader]

On NLP Itself --- heres an interesting review

http://www.psychcentral.com/psypsych/Neuro-linguistic_programming

This article on TFT (a technology I have found useful in overcoming fear of heights but have since found another explanation for why the tapping strategy might have worked) could also be applied to NLP.

http://www.srmhp.org/0302/media-watch.html

Clinical/Personal Experience vs. Controlled Studies
A recurring theme throughout the SWT article was the notion that to be a good judge of TFT’s efficacy, clinicians need to “experience it themselves.” The two conclusions drawn from this premise were that: (1) people who have not studied and experienced TFT are not qualified to evaluate it and (2) claimed successes in clinical practice can take the place of well-designed controlled studies when it comes to judging TFT’s efficacy.

Nevertheless, “success” as ascertained by personal or clinical experience alone is not a valid basis to judge whether a given therapeutic technique is efficacious. Clinicians are subject to the same types of errors and cognitive distortions that all human beings are prone to. As Meehl (1997) pointed out, “Ignoring a skeptic’s request for evidence by invoking the buzzword ‘clinical’ amounts to saying that the patients’ cognitive distortions can be studied, and those of their relatives, but that I, the clinician, am immune from study. This may be convenient for me, but it is irrational and irresponsible” (p. 94). One such distortion is confirmation bias, the tendency we all have to pay attention to information that confirms existing beliefs and to ignore or explain away information that does not. Well controlled studies, subjected to peer review, are needed to counteract this bias. Although this prescription is far from perfect, it is the best we have and is far preferable to anecdotes and public promotional demonstrations by enthusiastic proponents.

It is erroneous to assume that people who have not “experienced” TFT cannot judge whether there is sound evidence for its claims. Anyone acquainted with the scientific method can evaluate the adequacy of research, just as one need not be trained in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to evaluate studies on ECT’s efficacy. In the case of TFT, this task is even easier. One need not pay for expensive TFT trainings to recognize that no published randomized controlled studies support the efficacy of TFT.

 

[jem]

Quote from kiwi_trader:

Ignoring the issue of NLP (and modeling and so on and so forth) the PPC is not bad. Even if some of it is "dodgy" I think its dodgy in a "doesnt do anything good" way rather than a does harm way. Its not a bad framework to start examining your approach from and most of what he offers (like the 10pt way to start your day) will help you move towards success.

As a side issue, I have found that if I am too calm (meditated) I trade more poorly that if I'm a bit off. I think that some of my inhibitions to bad trading decline when I become too relaxed. At least thats my theory of me - and may apply to no one else

That is a great observation. I struggled with that concept in golf. Whereas in tennis if I am motivated and moving I drop into the zone on my own. In golf I struggle with the right amount of relaxation because it can turn into not giving a crap very easily.

When I was scalping stocks I was always paying attention and concentrating because of the size. When it is small swing postions I do get a little lose. Sort of interesting. Perhaps we should be focusing on the right size to get us to pay the right amount of attention rather than trying to focus on our own easlily manipulated states of mind.

We shoud really be striving to hit the right concentration vs. risk zone.

 

[CTTrader]

Kiwi, you make a good point. One shouldn't be too relaxed when trading or doing anything else where concentration is required. Being overly relaxed is sure to cause lethargic trading.

The calm, clear mind achieved through meditation is a highly focused state that allows one to block out all extraneous sensory inputs and to concentrate intensely on the relevant ones. Often referred to in athletics as "being in the zone", it allows an athlete to perform without being distracted by the crowd, or a trader to perform without being bothered by the jackhammer outside the window, the phone ringing, or the guy at the next desk bragging about the killer trade he just did.

NLP is a mild form of this and while it may have some benefit (it certainly doesn't hurt) it is not the meat and bones I'm looking for in trading education.

 

[steve46]

Hey Folks:

Although I do not claim "insider" information, I have read quite a bit on this subject, especially as it relates to modeling of specific performance (Athletics, Military, etc). What I notice is that some of the concepts do help (when intelligently used) a person to accelerate the learning process. I have used some of the techniques to help my performance in sports activities, and seen them used in the context of athletic competition, both amateur (Olympic Games) and professional.

For traders, if you have some basic talent, you may benefit from reading some of the early works as relates to Dr. Milton Erickson from example. Interested parties can PM me for specifics (I can provide book titles given your specific areas of interest).

Best Regards,
Steve