Right, so obviously the more hysterical brand of Derren Brown detractor and/or obsessive may suggest that he's actually controlling people's minds (rather than using a tried-and-tested blend of subtle manipulation, misdirection and psychological tricks), and that's a load of baloney. Except they do sort of have a point, as it's been suggested that one of Brown's favoured methods is something called neuro-linguistic programming (or NLP), stating that his type of show "consists of a range of magical 'tricks', misdirection and, most intriguing, setting up audiences to provide the response that he wishes them to provide by using subtle subliminal cues in his conversation with them." So, like, actual mind control? Sort of. NLP is an approach to communication, personal development, and psychotherapy, which basically teaches you how to program certain behaviours through a supposed connection between the neurological processes ("neuro") and language ("linguistic"). Mostly its creators claim its successful deployment in helping people get over phobias, allergies and even the common cold, but they do all of that by - essentially - brainwashing people. In a nice way! But, still, it's somebody controlling your thoughts. And, to be honest, that all sounds a lot like the sort of tricks that Derren Brown is wont to use, and he's admitted to attending NLP courses in books before; he claims not to use the technique, however, having failed to pass the course and sticking to his old school techniques. Or does he...? Is this another neat example of misdirection? Is that what he wants us to believe? Is he controlling our minds RIGHT NOW? AGH.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
