TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS

TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS

A method of analysing and understanding behaviour

The study of social transactions between people

Developed by Eric Berne in 1950s.

OBJECTIVE OF TA

To provide better understanding of how people relate to one another, so they may
develop improved communication and human relationship.

EGO-STATES

Two people interact with each other from one of the three psychological positions,
known as Ego-states

It is a consistent pattern of feelings and experiences relating to corresponding

consistent pattern of behaviour

These ego states are called Parent, Adult and Child, and a person can operate
(communicate or act) from any one of the three.

PARENT EGO STATE

It incorporates the attitude and behaviour of all emotionally significant people

who serve as parent figure when the individual was a child.

The value and behaviour of these people were recorded in mind of the individual
and these becomes the basic values of personality.

NURTURING AND CRITICAL PARENT EGO STATES

Nurturing Ego state reflects nurturing behaviour not only toward children but also
to other people in interaction.

Critical Ego state shows critical and evaluative behaviour

Each individual has unique parent ego state: a mixture of helpfulness and
hurtfulness.

REPRESENTATION OF PARENT EGO STATE (CRITICAL PARENT)

You should not do that.

It was your carelessness.

That was a bad mistake.

REPRESENTATION OF PARENT EGO STATE (NURTURING PARENT)

Well done! That was a fine piece of work.

You have my wholehearted support in the matter.

ADULT EGO STATE

It appears as rational, calculating, factual and unemotional behaviour.

It is based on rationality.

It is characterised by logical reasoning and thinking.

CHILD EGO STATE

It reflects the emotions developed in response to childhood experiences.

It may be spontaneous, fun-loving, energetic, compliant, polite, dependent,

creative or rebellious, depending on the individual.

It desires approval from others and immediate rewards.

Child Ego States: Natural or Adapted

NATURAL CHILD

Displays genuine feelings

Acts on impulses

Demonstrates a considerable capacity for friendliness and affection

Curiosity, creativity are associated

Too much of this ego state- labeled as immature, childish, emotional

ADAPTED CHILD

Gets along politely with other people

Behaves in a socially accepted way

Adapts in a variety of ways so that other people will find us acceptable and
amenable

May be perceived as lacking confidence

Alternatively, one may have learned during childhood to overcompensate so that

now he appears aggressive and rebellious.

DIAGNOSIS OF THE EGO STATES

Basic Concern

NP- To be right,

CP- To be on the target

Adult: To be recognised as a good decision maker & a competent person

Child: To be liked

Thoughts, Words, Phrases

NP- Do your best, work hard, dont worry, take care, well done, God bless you,
Relax

CP- Do/ Dont, Good/Bad, Should/ Shouldnt, Thats ridiculous, Because I said so

Adult: Who? What? When? Where? What are the options? Lets look at it again.

NC: I wish, I want, Great, Fantastic, I wonder, I hope.

AC: May I, Help me, Love me, Thank you, Sorry, Ill Try hard

A HEALTHY PERSONALITY

All people behave from these three ego states at different times

A healthy person has a personality that maintain balance among Nurturing

Parent, Adult and Natural Child

WHEN NEEDED

Nurturing Parent: Need this ego state at those times when it is appropriate to care
for someone else.

Controlling Parent: When we need to be firm

Adult: At the time of problem solving and decision making

TYPES OF TRANSACTIONS

Complementary: The message transmitted from one ego-state elicits an

appropriate response from the proper ego state of the other individual.

Crossed:The message sent by one ego-state is responded to from an incompatible,

unexpected ego state of the other individual.

Ulterior: Ulterior communication has double meaning. Literal and intent meaning
are not same.

COMPLEMENTARY TRANSACTION

CHILD-PARENT TRANSACTION

Sender: Im afraid, we have to rewrite the initial part in that report.

Responder: Dont worry, Ill take care of it.

CROSSED TRANSACTION

Sender: What is the time?

Receiver: Why dont you use your own watch?

ULTERIOR TRANSACTION

FATHER: Do you know what time is it? (Are you aware, youre late?)

SON: Its half past ten (I really dont care!)

LIFE POSITIONS

A life-position is the combination of assumptions about ones self-worth and the

worth of significant people in the environment.

TA believes that an individuals life position at any given time expresses in some
manner just how that individual is relating to others in terms of relating, feeling
and behaving.

LIFE-POSITIONS

Im not OK, Youre OK- Person feels powerlessness in comparison to others.

Grumbles about something or the other.

Im not OK, Youre not OK A desperate life-position and is accompanied by

feelings of confusion or aimlessness and pointlessness.

LIFE-POSITIONS

Im OK, Youre not OK - Distrustful Life Position. This position is taken by

people who feel victimised or persecuted. They blame others for their miseries.

Im OK, Youre OK A rationally chosen life-position. People in this life-position

feel confident about themselves and have trust and confidence in others. They are
optimistic and happy about work and life.

LIFE-POSITIONS

An individuals life-position is established at about 3 or 4 years old age.

One of the four positions dominates each individuals life.

The desirable position is Im OK, Youre OK.

Mature individuals move into this life-position through psychological

understanding and conscious choice.

STROKING

It is as an act of physical, verbal or visual recognition of anothers presence.

Every individual has the need to be recognised and praised by others.

During transaction strokes are being exchanged.

Two types of strokes: positive and negative

STROKING

Positive Stroke: A stroke that makes one feel OK and creates pleasant feelings.
Words of praise and appreciation, affection, pat on the back etc. are positive
strokes. Complimentary remarks about our work, our appearance, our family, our
hobby all are positive strokes.

Negative Stroke: A stoke that creates unpleasant feelings. Examples Criticism,

hating, scolding.

STROKING

An individual requires positive strokes.

Usually those individuals who learn a negative stroking pattern in their

childhood , tend to seek when positive strokes are not available.

Individuals may seek negative strokes also for such reasons as guilt or low selfimage.

We must all get a minimal level of attention from others if we are to function as
healthy individuals.

Exchange strokes.

You must be aware of your stroking profile.

PSYCHOLOGICAL GAMES

Psychological games are special transactions programmed by the child to deal

with its burden of NOT OK feelings.

Games refer to recurring transactions.

They have a concealed motivation.

ELEMENTS OF A PSYCHOLOGICAL GAME

Repetition

Predictability

Ulterior Transaction

Negative payoff

ROLES IN THE GAME PLAYING

Persecutors: Make unrealistic rules, enforce rules in cruel ways, and acts from the
negative aspects of critical parent ego state trying to control others.
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Some typical games:

See what you made me to do (the person who will not accept responsibility for
the mistakes they make)

If it werent for you (The person who blames others for their unhappy life)

How you can be so stupid

ROLES IN THE GAME PLAYING

Victims: Provokes others to put him down, use him, and hurt him; who send
messages of helplessness, who forgets conveniently, and who acts confused.

Some typical games:

Poor me: The whole world is against me. See how they are taking advantage of
me.

Wooden leg: I could have done many things, but for this wooden legs!

No matter what I do, it always turns out wrong.

ROLES IN THE GAME PLAYING

Rescuers: Offers helpfulness to keep others dependent on him, does not really
help others and may actually dislike helping.

Some typical games:

Im only trying to help you

What would you do without me

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REASONS FOR PLAYING GAMES

Games are powerful source of strokes.

In strengthening life-positions.

In avoiding responsibility, competition, risks, and problems.

In avoiding intimacy or controlling it.

EFFECTS OF GAME-PLAYING

Most games cause trouble.

Games end in predictable negative pay-off.

HOW TO STOP GAME-PLAYING?

Avoidance of acting roles involved in games, particularly victim roles.

Avoidance of putting other people down.

Avoidance of putting oneself down.

Giving positive strokes as against negative strokes.

Structuring most of lifes time in activities and intimacy.

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