Metaphor Hypnosis

What is a Metaphor?

'The essence of metaphor is understanding and experiencing one kind of thing in terms of another' (Lakoff & Johnson, 2003, p5).

A metaphor is a figure of speech, a literary device where a statement containing one obvious literal meaning is applied to something in a different context. Good metaphors are vivid, brief and insightful. A metaphor always contains at least two parts - the thing stated and the thing compared to - so a metaphor always communicates on at least two levels, the face value meaning, and a symbolic meaning.

Consider the example metaphor 'You had better pull your socks up' . The speaker is not making a comment about how somebody is dressed: the speaker is suggesting that the listener needs to do something about their present situation. The speaker gets their point across through generating a vivid image in a minimum number of words. Because it is image based, this metaphor example allows the speaker to imply certain things without actually saying them: that the listener is in some ways like a child; that the speaker stands in relation to the listener as an adult does to a thoughtless child; that the listener's shortcomings are immediate and obvious; that the shortcomings are easy fixed; and many more.

The metaphor also works for the listener: the words create an image in the listener's mind, but that image is the result of a complex mental process. In order to make sense of the words, words that on the surface make no sense, the listener has to search their memory for parallel experiences to 'pulling the socks up', and would have found something, or possibly many things, that match various aspects of the suggested image. In accessing those past experiences the mind simultaneously accesses and brings to mind any resources or lessons associated with those things.

Definition of Metaphor

'a metaphor is something that stands for something else'. Metaphors can be verbal or non verbal. Verbal metaphors can be overt for example "I feel like I'm dragging a great weight around with me" or they can be embedded in language and in sensory expressions such as "I don't know why I keep punishing myself this way". The metaphor can be expressions of an abstract concept such as "I feel a pain in my soul".

Non verbal metaphors include 'body' expressions such as body language, posture, dress, sounds, gestures, lines of sight. Non verbal metaphors also include 'artistic' communication such as painting, writing, music, dance, play, drama, ritual and many others. Every form of communication has its own form of metaphor. This is why metaphor therapy is so universal, why all cultures employ metaphors in therapy.

Editors:

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