Figuring Out People: Reading People Using Meta-... Apr 2026

Motivated by goals, rewards, and "moving toward" pleasure.

In Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), are the unconscious mental filters that govern how we process information, make decisions, and respond to our environment. Rather than viewing personality as a static trait, this approach sees it as a "perceptual lens"—a habitual way of "sorting" reality. Figuring Out People: Reading People Using Meta-...

The book identifies over (with some editions listing up to 60) categorized by how they influence different aspects of our lives. 1. Motivation Direction: Toward vs. Away From This determines what drives a person to take action. Motivated by goals, rewards, and "moving toward" pleasure

Relies on their own standards and gut feelings to know if they’ve done a good job. The book identifies over (with some editions listing

Looks for similarities and patterns; prefers consistency and routine.

This highlights how people perceive and categorize new information.

These patterns can change depending on the environment (e.g., you might be more detail-oriented at work than at home). Core Categories of Meta-Programs