The term positive is generally used to mean "desirable" or "beneficial", and negative is generally used to mean "undesirable" or "bad". However, in neuro-linguistic programming

Neuro-linguistic programming

Neuro-linguistic programming is an approach to psychotherapy, self-help and organizational change. Founders Richard Bandler and John Grinder say that NLP is a model of interpersonal communication and a system of alternative therapy which seeks to educate people in self-awareness and effective...

 they have a specific meanings in the phrases positive intent and stated in the positive, and negative intent and stated in the negative.

Application

In this sense, the term is used to mean linguistically stated in the affirmatory. In other words, a goal or intent is said to be positively stated if it is stated by reference to a state or thing one desires, and it is said to be negatively stated by reference to a state or thing one wishes to avoid.

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Virginia Satir

Virginia Satir

Virginia Satir was an American author and psychotherapist, known especially for her approach to family therapy and her work with Systemic Constellations...

 originated a slightly different meaning of the phrase positive intention. She believed that digging deeply into a client's dysfunctional

Abnormality (behavior)

Abnormality, in the vivid sense of something deviating from the normal or differing from the typical , is a subjectively defined behavioral characteristic, assigned to those with rare or dysfunctional conditions...

 or damaging behaviour should find that the client is trying to achieve a positive intent through undesirable behaviour, unconsciously ineptly and harmfully, and that the dysfunction could often be helped by finding other ways to honor that positive intention.

In a similar vein, psychiatrist R. D. Laing has argued that the symptoms of what is normally called mental illness are comprehensible reactions to impossible demands that society and family life place on sensitive individuals.

Examples

The following statements are all positive intent or stated in the positive, regardless of whether they are beneficial or damaging wishes:

Stated in the positive

• I want a car with a 6 litre engine.
• I'm hoping to retire in 5 years.
• I'd like to steal/harm/take something or someone (stated in the positive in the technical linguistic and NLP senses, and would constitute a "positive intention", though negative in an everyday sense).

The following statements are all negative intent or stated in the negative, regardless of whether they are beneficial or damaging wishes:

Stated in the negative:

• I don't like this office.
• I hate it.
• I want them to stop picking on me.
• When I retire I won't have to work.
• If I had money I wouldn't have to steal (stated in the negative in the linguistic and NLP senses; it does not constitute a positive intention, though it is a positive wish in an everyday sense. To turn it into a positive, one might ask questions such as, "What would you like to be doing if you were not stealing?")

Functional significance

The significance of this comes from the psychological phenomenon claimed by some, that the mind does not always process neuro-linguistically negatives well. For example, when one focuses on what he or she does not want, the mind may, at some level, imagine the object to be avoided more than the relational word "not." For example, the common quote, "Don't think of a white bear!" may cause one to have difficulty not thinking of a white bear.

In cognitive terms, therefore, "not wanting to steal" is not the same as "being honest," and tends to keep the negative idea at the forefront of the mind. It also subjectively suggests a single dead-end rather than a general direction to go. This is why, whilst a wish to avoid can motivate, it is generally not seen by NLP as being as useful as a positive intention.

Positive intent

A person's intention

Intention

Intention is an agent's specific purpose in performing an action or series of actions, the end or goal that is aimed at. Outcomes that are unanticipated or unforeseen are known as unintended consequences....

in performing an action is his or her specific purpose in doing so, the end or goal at which he or she aims or intends to accomplish. Whether an action is successful or unsuccessful depends at least on whether the intended result was brought about. The aphorism in NLP is that all human action fulfils a positive intent at some level. Often, the intent, if explored, will be quite surprising and revealing, and suggest new directions of thought, especially to people who habitually think in terms of negative intention. For example:

• I don't want to take that job

Possible positive intention: I want to be able to relax
Possible effect: the client may come to see that the job need not in fact be in conflict with relaxation, or may explore ways to remain calm at work. Otherwise, if the job be detrimental, the client should consider a different career or other forms of relaxation outside work.

For these reasons, in NLP it is generally seen as more beneficial to focus on the opportunities a person has, other than those he or she wants to be gone.