Are you visual, auditory or kinesthetic?

People receive information from the environment around us through the five senses. (sense, hearing, taste, touch and smell). They are the ones who allow us to interact with other people and with the environment, they are the ones who bring us beauty, discomfort, pleasures and fears. Now, do you think that all people perceive this information in the same way? What’s more, how would you define yourself: visual, auditory or kinesthetic?

The current of neurolinguistic programming (NLP) tells us that the world as we see it does not exist, we are the ones who “reinterpret” it and shape it based on our personality and according to the predominance of some senses over others. Likewise, of all the information that surrounds us on a daily basis, there is a lot that we discard or do not pay attention to for the same reasons.

This theoretical approach places its focus of interest on a very specific aspect: Help people understand the way they see and interpret the world. Only when we understand it can we change our thoughts and behavior to adjust to what we need: to achieve success or healing.

Thus, Knowing which sensitive channel predominates in us is a start to this type of perspective..

What is neurolinguistic programming (NLP)?

Steve Bavister and Amanda Vickers, authors of the book Neurolinguistic programming (2014), define this approach as a communication model. That is, it is not a type of treatment, nor a psychological approach that is on par with humanism or cognitivism. It is a framework through which it is possible for us to find those thought models that can most help us improve our quality of life.

To this day, continuous reviews continue to be made to assess the effectiveness of this type of methodology. Thus, studies such as the one carried out by the University of Southampton, United Kingdom, and published in the medical journal British Journal of General Practice they tell us that There are still no conclusive results on the usefulness of NLP.

However, beyond the academic vision, there are those who see neurolinguistic programming (NLP) as an interesting resource for the following reasons:

Improves self-awareness.Boosts self-confidence.Improves social skills.Neurolinguistic programming is known for offer tools to optimize communication so that it is effective and successful.

And you, are you visual, auditory or kinesthetic?

To better understand what we mean by the question of whether you are visual, auditory or kinesthetic, we will give you an example. When you are introduced to a person, how do you usually react?

According to neurolinguistic programming (NLP), people who use the auditory canal usually prefer a “hello, how are you?” On the other hand, those who lean towards a smile or a polite gesture use the visual channel more. Finally, The one who uses a hug will undoubtedly be more kinesthetic.

It is clear that we can all have a small mixture of these three dimensions, and that we also tend to use them in different situations. Now, according to this perspective, we will always have one predominance or another. Depending on which sense we have more developed, will in turn determine that channel with which it is easier for us to acquire knowledge. and process new experiences.

The visual

Maybe when you drive you like to listen to music. Now, it is also possible that when you arrive in the city and notice that the traffic becomes denser and more complicated, it bothers you to have the radio on, and even more so if instead of music what you hear is words. You can’t concentrate. This would be a simple example of people who use the visual sense to a greater extent.

Visuals have a high level of energy, they are restless and observant people., they capture the detail and many of the small aspects that other people miss. They usually visualize images in their mind to be able to remember them and it is common that to do so they must write small notes or notes. They use visual references such as colors or shapes to remember or describe things and places and They are usually very creative and imaginative people.

They need quiet places to concentrate. In general, they are organized people and feel particular distaste for chaos or untidy things.

The auditory

Are you one of those who usually expresses their thoughts out loud? Do you always prefer other people explaining things to you rather than reading them yourself? Do you usually easily follow people’s conversations even if you are looking away? If so, your mode of processing information is auditory.

According to the theories of neurolinguistic programming, people with a predominance of the auditory canal tend to be more relaxed, communicative and with great skills of expression. They like to talk and remember in great detail each of the words they have heard. This relationship with words makes them easy to write and speak.

They are usually very good at listening and paying attention to what they are being told. For this reason They tend to learn more effectively through what they hear than, for example, reading or making mnemonic schemes.

The kinesthetic

What are your passions? Do you like cooking, sports, working outdoors? Do you prefer to experience things before learning about them? NLP tells us that kinesthetic people, despite being calm, have a special taste for emotions. and for everything that has to do with manual things, with experimenting with touch, taste and smell.

They are very expressive, socially open, those who seek closeness, hugs and, in general, physical contact. In addition, they are physically restless and express themselves through the movement of their body.

It has also been determined that Kinesthetic people tend to be more intuitive and empathetic, so they usually pay attention to both their emotions and those of others. As these are people with high sensitivity, Excess noise or crowded places can make them uncomfortable.

A kinesthetic person has no special interest in details as the most “visual” people can be, but yes, they are more spontaneous and tend to seek emotions in the first person. Likewise, and as a curiosity, it is worth mentioning the name of Neil D. Fleming. This professor from the University of Lincoln, in New Zealand, has developed the VARK teaching method, which aims to respond to primary and secondary school students based on the sensory channels that most predominate in them.

Thus, it is known, for example, that The kinesthetic student is the one who has the most difficulties when adapting to traditional school. It needs more movement and interaction, which is why this new model is as original as it is successful.

To conclude, it is clear that all of us have some traces of all these dimensions, but the interesting thing within the perspective of NLP is that the way in which we understand reality is closely related to our personality and also with our senses. It is one more way to get to know ourselves, another interesting perspective with which to turn the key to self-knowledge.

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