Richard Bandler
Co-founder of neuro-linguistic programming and self-help author.
Richard Wayne Bandler (born 1950) is an American writer, consultant, and public speaker in the field of self-help. With John Grinder, he founded the neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) approach to psychotherapy in the 1970s. Bandler obtained a BA degree in philosophy and psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1973, and an MA degree in psychology from Lone Mountain College in San Francisco in 1975. He helped publisher Robert S. Spitzer edit *The Gestalt Approach* (1973) based on a manuscript by Fritz Perls, and assisted with checking transcripts for *Eye Witness to Therapy* (1973). According to Spitzer, "[Bandler] came out of it talking and acting like Fritz Perls."
- born
- 1950
- field
- Self-help, psychotherapy
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Co-founding neuro-linguistic programming (NLP)
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Richard Bandler was born in Teaneck, New Jersey and attended high school in Sunnyvale, California. He has stated that he was beaten as a child so badly that every bone in his body was broken. After his parents separated, he moved with his mother and stayed mostly in and around San Francisco. While a student at UCSC, Bandler led a Gestalt therapy group. John Grinder, a professor at the University, said to Bandler that he could explain almost all the questions and comments Bandler made using transformational grammar. Together, they created what they called a therapist training group. This was the basis for their first book, *The Structure of Magic* (1975). Bandler and Grinder claim to have later codified some of the foundational models for neuro-linguistic programming in part by studying the methods of Milton Erickson and Virginia Satir. In 1986, Corine Ann Christensen (December 8, 1954 – November 3, 1986), a former girlfriend of Bandler's friend and cocaine dealer, James Marino, was shot dead in her Santa Cruz townhouse with a .357 magnum owned by Bandler. Authorities charged Bandler with her murder. Bandler testified that he had been at Christensen's house, but that Marino had shot Christensen. After a short deliberation, a jury found Bandler not guilty.
Reader's Guide
Richard Bandler's significance lies in co-founding neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), a controversial approach to psychotherapy and self-help that emerged in the 1970s. NLP claims to model human excellence and communication patterns, drawing on the work of therapists such as Fritz Perls, Milton Erickson, and Virginia Satir. Bandler and Grinder's early publications, including *The Structure of Magic I* (1975) and *The Structure of Magic II* (1976), sought to codify therapeutic language patterns. Despite its popularity in self-help and business training, NLP has been criticized for lacking empirical support. Bandler's legacy is also marked by his 1986 murder trial, in which he was acquitted. His extensive bibliography includes works on hypnosis, persuasion, and personal change, reflecting his ongoing influence in the self-help industry.
Did You Know?
- Bandler has stated that he was beaten as a child so badly that every bone in his body was broken.
- He helped edit *The Gestalt Approach* (1973) based on a manuscript by Fritz Perls, and according to publisher Robert S. Spitzer, "[Bandler] came out of it talking and acting like Fritz Perls."
- In 1986, Bandler was charged with the murder of Corine Ann Christensen, but a jury found him not guilty after a short deliberation.
- Bandler obtained a BA degree in philosophy and psychology from UC Santa Cruz in 1973 and an MA in psychology from Lone Mountain College in 1975.
- Bandler and John Grinder created their first book, *The Structure of Magic*, in 1975 based on a therapist training group they formed at UCSC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Richard Bandler?
Richard Wayne Bandler is an American writer, consultant, and public speaker born in 1950 who became widely recognized for co-founding the neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) framework in the 1970s.
What did Richard Bandler create?
Alongside John Grinder, he developed neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) in the 1970s, an approach to psychotherapy that maps language patterns to behavioral change. The method later became a cornerstone of the self-help and alternative-therapy movements.
Who is Richard Bandler's co-founder?
He partnered with linguist John Grinder to build out the NLP model during the 1970s, and the two are consistently credited together as the originators of the approach.
What field does Richard Bandler work in?
He operates in the self-help and psychotherapy space, serving as an author, consultant, and public speaker who disseminates NLP-based techniques.
Why is Richard Bandler significant in the alternative-medicine canon?
NLP, which he co-founded, has been adopted by a wide range of alternative-practice communities even though mainstream psychology largely regards its claims as lacking rigorous scientific support. His name therefore anchors a large portion of the alternative-therapy and self-help canon.
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