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Transactional AnalysisA Newer Analytical Approach

Text: Chapter 11

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Transactional Analysis Developer: Eric Berne Historical development View of human nature

- Motivated by three fundamental needs:

Stimulus hunger

Structure hunger

Position hunger.2

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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.

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Ways of structuring time:1. Withdrawal - safe, avoids risk2. Rituals and pasttimes - low risk, non-

involving social interactions, pleasantries3. Activities - work, hobbies which bring

strokes4. 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. 4

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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: “I’m OK.” or “I’m not OK.” “You’re OK.” or You’re 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.

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Structure of Personality

- Thinking and responding influenced by our parent’s way of interacting with us

- Filled with values, injunctions, shoulds & oughts, and behaviors internalized from childhood.

Personality is composed of three ego states: The Parent, the Adult, and the Child

The Parent ego state:

P

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The Parent is subdivided into 2 parts:

The Nurturing Parent

- Internalized messages that were loving, supporting and accepting

- Results in adult nurturing responsesThe Critical Parent

- Internalized messages that were rejecting, controlling, and judgmental

- Results in adult critical responses.7

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- The objective part of personality

- It processes information

- Has no feeling

- Asks factual questions: what, when, why?

- Mediates between Parent and Child

- Focuses on decision-making

- Presents situations in an organized and intelligent way.

A The Adult ego state:

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- Child-like; reflects the little boy/girl that never grows up

- Reflects child-like feelings

- Is fun-loving, affectionate, selfish, mean, playful, whiny, manipulative, spontaneous

- Is divided into 2 parts: The Natural/Free Child

- impulsive, pleasure-seeking, uninhibited, aggressive, rebellious, creative, affectionate, etc.

C The Child ego state:

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The Adapted Child - Ignores own instincts and tries to please parents

- Duplicates reactions individuals had toward parents in childhood including feelings, such as guilt, fear, and anger

- It complies, procrastinates, negotiates

To be healthy, one must balance responses and ego states appropriately

People are generally in one ego state or another Comparison between id, ego, and superego and

ego states.

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Development of Maladaptive Behavior

Contamination - When Adult ego state is interfered with by the prejudicial or irrational ideas of the Parent. (Parent contaminates Adult)

Example: All young people today are going to the dogs

This is a statement coming from the critical Parent, but is stated with the belief that it is a fact.

Ego State Boundary Problems

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Contamination - When the Adult ego state is interfered with by the archaic feelings of the Child. (Child contaminates Adult)

Example: I’m no good, can’t do anything right

This is a statement coming from the archaic Child, but is stated as if it were a fact.

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Exclusion - When one or more ego states are effectively prevented from operating.

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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 one’s life position regarding self

and others.

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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 life’s script The Guilt Racket, the Depression Racket, the

Worry Racket Convinces one of his/her not OK position.

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Injunctions Parental messages that tell children what to

do and how to be Stem from parent’s own anxiety, frustration,

unhappiness Children decide to accept or challenge

injunctions Examples: don’t be, don’t succeed When children decide to accept negative

injunctions, this leads to maladaptive behavior.

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Life Positions Early in life, individuals take a position

regarding their intrinsic worth and that of others

Environmental experiences influence these positions

Four life positions:1. “I’m okay - you’re okay.”2. “I’m okay - you’re not okay.” 3. “I’m not okay - you’re okay.” 4. “I’m not okay - you’re not okay.”

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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?”.

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Functions and Goals of Therapy

Structural analysis - analyze client’s ego states

Are you a “Constant Parent”? Are you a “Constant Adult”? Are you a “Constant Child”? Perhaps use egogram - a diagram portraying

the energy one expends in each ego state.

What the therapist does.

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Analysis of Transactions – functional analysis

Diagnosing the ego states that emerge in a social interchange

Three kinds of transactions:

1. Complimentary transactions

2. Crossed transactions

3. Ulterior transactions.

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Complimentary Transactions

Lines of communication are parallel Communication can proceed smoothly and

indefinitely.

A

P

C

PPP

AAA

CCC

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Crossed Transactions

Lines of communication are crossed Communication is broken off Relationship breaks down.

A

P

C

PPP

AAA

CCC

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Ulterior Transactions

Two messages are sent, one overt, the other implied and unspoken

Can lead to repetitive game playing.

A

P

C

PPP

AAA

CCC

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Analyze Games

Why don’t you - yes, but . . . Seduction Uproar Blemish Look how hard I tried Cops and robbers.

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Analyze injunctions and client’s response to injunctions

Common injunctions (Goulding)

- “Don’t.”

- “Don’t be.”

- “Don’t be a child.”

- “Don’t be close.”

- “Don’t be well.”

- “Don’t succeed.” (“Don’t do well.”).

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Analyze scripts and decisions carried over from childhood

Analyze predominant life position based on understanding injunctions and scripts

Change script, early decisions, and life position through redecision: an emotional, intellectual, and behavioral process which takes place in therapy session

TA is also a contractual approach.