Transactional Analysis

Key Topics of Interpersonal Dynamics

Transactional Analysis

Assertiveness

Conflict Management

Transactional Analysis (TA)

Dr. Eric Berne
Method

for determining how people

interact When we interact, behavior can be:

passive aggressive assertive
Performance is greater with this behavior

TA is

a method of understanding behavior in interpersonal dynamics

Transactional Analysis
View of human nature - Motivated by three fundamental needs: Stimulus hunger Structure hunger Position hunger.

 Stimulus hunger - the need to be

affirmed/ recognized by others - The need to receive strokes - Can be positive or negative - Strokes result in either good or bad feelings called stamps which can be cashed in when enough are collected

Structure hunger - the need to structure

time effectively/maximize the number of strokes received.

Ways of structuring time:

1. Withdrawal - safe, avoids risk 2. Rituals and pasttimes - low risk, noninvolving social interactions, pleasantries 3. Activities - work, hobbies which bring strokes 4. Games - interactions based on unwritten rules designed to create pay off; usually covert and dishonest; common problem in relationships 5. Intimacy - an honest, game-free relationship with mutuality, no exploitation.

 Position hunger
- The need to have our fundamental life decisions validated and affirmed - To be told we are either OK or not OK - Early in life we make basic decisions about self and others: Im OK. or Im not OK. Youre OK. or Youre not OK. - This decision serves as the basis for a script which we use to structure time and seek strokes TA belief: We can overcome early experience and write healthy scripts.

Transactional Analysis
Parent: Rules and Laws, Do and donts, How to, teaching, Demonstrating Adult: Rationality, Estimation, Evaluation, Storing of data, exploring, testing

Child: Seeing, hearing, touching, creating, impulsive, spontaneous

TA: Ego States

Major

ego states that affect our behavior or the way we transact through communication:
Parent Ego State (P)
Critical parent Sympathetic parent

Child Ego State (C)

Natural child Adapted child

Adult Ego State (A)

TA: Stroking
Stroking

any behavior that implies recognition of anothers presence

Positive make people feel good about themselves Negative can hurt people in some way

Giving

praise (positive stroking) is a powerful motivation technique

Games
A reoccurring set of transactions Superficially rational with a concealed motive A series of transactions with a gimmick or negative pay off Sometimes called ulterior transactions Are played compulsively over and over Basically dishonest, involves the avoidance of intimacy Usually supports ones life position regarding self and others.

Rackets
Habitual ways of feeling Originating in the experiences we had in growing up Often are unpleasant feelings that we hold on to after playing games Become a basic part of lifes script The Guilt Racket, the Depression Racket, the Worry Racket Convinces one of his/her not OK position.

Injunctions
Parental messages that tell children what to do and how to be Stem from parents own anxiety, frustration, unhappiness Children decide to accept or challenge injunctions Examples: dont be, dont succeed When children decide to accept negative injunctions, this leads to maladaptive behavior.

STROKES
The recognition that one person gives to another Essential to a person's life Can vary from actual physical touch to praise

Scripts
A personal life plan which dictates behavior Formed early in life in reaction to important experiences such as the injunctions one is exposed to Relates to these questions: Who am I?, What am I doing here?, and Who are all those others?.

There are five ways people can structure their time to get strokes: RITUALS, PASTIMES, GAMES, INTIMACY, WORK

SCRIPT CHECKLIST

Life course. What short sentence best describes the person's life? Counterscript. This is a period of life dominated by the Parent. What does the person do when he seems to be escaping the life-course?

Parental Injunction. In what way did the Child in mother and father interfere with the person's OK-ness? The Game. Every script is based on a major game The Pastime. How does a person structure most of their spare time with others?

The Tragic Ending

Extremist, self-destructive scripts. Banal (dull/boring/predictable) scripts.

The Therapist's Role: A good therapist is aware of roles and how to avoid them.

GOOD AND BAD GAMES and SCRIPTS

Even though games are crooked they can sometimes be useful. Certain scripts may have socially redeeming features

THREE Ps; PERMISSION, PROTECTION, POTENCY

TA: Types of Transactions

Within

ego states there are three different types of transactions:

Complementary Transactions Crossed Transactions Ulterior Transactions

Complementary Transactions
Occur

when the sender of the message gets the intended response from the receiver
Generally result in more effective communication

Supervisor P

Employee P

Crossed Transactions
Occur

when the sender of a message does not get the expected response from the receiver
These result in surprise, disappointment, and hurt feelings for the sender of the message

Supervisor P

Employee

P A C

P A C

P A C

P A C

TA: Life Positions

Attitude toward Oneself
Positive

Im OK Youre not OK

Im OK Youre OK

Negative

Im not OK Youre not OK

Negative

Im not OK Youre OK
Positive

Attitude toward Others

Questions?

Thank-You!!