NLP was originally started by Richard Bandler and John Grinder. Whatever their goal was it has been expanded by numerous people, including Tony Robbins, laying claim to the term. About all I can find in common among these people is that they think NLP can help them or they think they can use NLP to help others. There is a FAQ on NLP kept by one Dale Kirby, who gives as a definition of NLP: "the study of the structure of subjective experience." Compuserve has another FAQ kept by one Patrick Merlevede who says some people add to the definition so that it reads "the study of the structure of subjective experience or anything that can be derived from it."
When I went to college we thought of all experience as subjective (what other kind is there?) and we called this kind of study "phenomenology." Anyway, whatever else one might have to say about guys like Husserl and Merleau-Ponty, they're a hell of alot more interesting than anything on either of these FAQs. In any case, it is clear from the FAQ that NLP is seen as giving people power akin to magic. Of course, it isn't really magic; it just seems that way to those who aren't believers or who just don't get it. NLP is called a form of self-development and a form of self-help, so it isn't hard to see who would be attracted to it: the same kind of people for whom walking on hot coals is a significant achievement. If you become adept at NLP you become comfortable with saying things like "the map is not the territory" and "life and mind are systemic processes." Actually, from what I can figure out, NLP means whatever you want it to mean. There seem to be many people doing many different things and making many different types of claims, though all refer to their field as NLP. These people seem to be looking for an edge in relationships, sales, sports, business, or life. As they say, any port in a storm.
NLP should not be confused with neurolinguistics, the study of the neurological bases of speech and language, as studied at such places as Brown University.
reader comments
Regarding your comments on Tony Robbins: Having studied some of his work, I find your descriptions inaccurate. If you have specific references to particular works (and I would suggest they be of somewhat recent vintage) I think you should include those. In particular, your reference to firewalking: my recollection of Mr. Robbins' description is that it IS NOT paranormal in any way, but simply a demonstration to the firewalkers that they CAN do something that they thought was impossible. Viewed in that light, it is a demonstration of how beliefs can limit what we attempt to achieve.
Further, your comments on "Neuro Linguistic Programming" are suspect; as far as I know, Tony Robbins no longer uses that term; he instead refers to "Neuro-Associative Conditioning."
further reading
Introduction to NLP
"Bandler Unplugged" An interview with the head honcho himself. Read it. He reveals it all in this interview.
Merl's World on NLP!
Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Design Human Engineering General Information Server
"An Investigation of Firewalking," Bernard J. Leikind and William J. McCarthy, in The Hundreth Monkey and Other Paradigms of the Paranormal,ed. Kendrick Frazier (Buffalo, N.Y.: Prometheus Books, 1991).