You are on page 1of 17

FOR THE STUDY OF TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS AND SOCIAL DYNAMICS

000- SAN FRANCISCO SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY SEMINARS

z 0
0
dK

3
Q Z O Q

TRANSAMONAL ANALYSIS BULLETIN

o
WF

VOLUME 2_____________APRIL, 1963 _____________NUMBER 6

W O Z O z Q

CG 6

Page

SCIENTIFIC PROCEEDINGS
WINTER QUARTER, 1963 -------------------------------------------------------- 55

SOCIAL DYNAMICS
ADOLESCENT OFFENDERS -----------------------------------------------------57

P. McCormick CLINICAL NOTES


GAMES PLAYED BY ALCOHOLICS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SB

R. L. Goulding
DESTINY & SCRIPT CHOICES ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 59

G. Haiberg, W. R. Se f ness, and E. Berne


NARCOTIC ADDICTS
J47.

Collins

BIBLIOGRAPHY ABSTRACT
PRISON THERAPY GROUPS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 62

F. H. Ernst A LIVING PROBLEM C. St. Cyr INTRODUCTORY COURSE COMPLETED


63

NEWS: WYOMING & LOS ANGELES


ORGANIZATIONAL NEWS ---------------------------------------------------------- 66

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES - - -

. . . . 67

TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS BULLETIN Published Quarterly by THE SAN FRANCISCO SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY: SEMINARS
A NON-PROFIT EDUCATIONAL CORPORATION

VOLUME 2 APRIL 1963 NUMBER 6 The Transactional Analysis Bulletin will be published quarterly to keep active members, members at large, associate members, former, students, and other interested parties current with the scientific, educational, organizational and personal activities of the. San Francisco Social Psychiatry Seminars., Subscriptions are solicited from institutions and libraries at $3 per year (U.K. 18/-). All funds received from associate memberships and subscriptions will be devoted to continuing a n d enlarging the Bulletin until it becomes possible to, publish selected articles without the necessity for undue abbreviation. Subscriptions, enquiries, exchanges, and financial contributions should be addressed to The Transactional Analysis, Bulletin, P.O. Box 5747, Carmel, California. Contributors Short summaries of newlyy discovered transactional games or other original observations, brief accounts of clinical, scientific, or teaching activities, letters to the editor, or personal and organizational notes should be addressed to the Editor, Transactional Analysis Bulletin, at the above address. Such contributions are encouraged as the best way for members in various parts of the country to keep in touch with each other. Advertising Rates for classified and display advertising will be submitted on request. The Bulletin reaches a select audience of professional people in the San Francisco Bay Area and other parts of the country.
Editorial and Circulation Assistant, Mary N. Williams

THE SAN FRANCISCO SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY SEMINARS Directors 1962 - 1963

Eric Berne, M.D. Melvin H. Boyce, B.S. Joseph Concannon, M.S.W. Franklin Ernst, M.D. Kenneth V. Everts, M.D. Robert Goulding, M.D. Gordon Haiberg, M.D. At Large

George Jones, M.S.W. Viola Litt, M.A. Frances Matson, M.S.W. Paul McCormick, A.B. Mary Michelson, A.B. Ray Poindexter,'M.D.

William Collins, Los Angeles Myra.Schapps, Los Angeles Barbara Rosenfeld, Philadelphia Claude Steiner, Ann Arbor
Copyright. 1963, San Francisco Social Psychiatry Seminars,' Inc.

SCIENTIFIC PROCEEDINGS
WINTER QUARTER - ADVANCED SEMINAR - 202 - JANUARY - MARCH 1963 The abstracts below are written for professional readers who are assumed to be familiar with the basic principles and terminology of transactional analysis. January 15. William Collins: "Correctional Treatment of Narcotic Addicts." (Tape). See Page 60. January 22. Paul McCormick: "Preparing for Group Work with Adolescent Offenders." See Page 57. January 29. H. N. Courland: "Clinical Hypnosis." C, a visitor to the seminars, described the induction and theory of hypnosis in conventional terms. These were easily translated into transactional language. A demonstration of induction revealed the hypnotist as a maternal Parent. The transactional hypnotist was therefore the hypnotist's mother. The subject con firmed the complaint cathexis of his Child ego state. Whether or not he followed the posthypnotic suggestion was a game decision if his Adult took over, or an act of compliance if he allowed his Child to follow the suggestion. February 5. Frances Matson: "Games of Narcotics Addicts - The Connection." M described a narcotics addict in private practice who first tried to get her to play rescuer ("I'm Only Trying To Help You"), and when she declined attempted successively to induce her to play patsy and persecutor. After she aborted all three attempts, they were able to face the issues squarely and productive therapy could begin. If the therapist's position is not made clear in this way at the very first interview, the situation is highly unfavorable. In effect the addict tries to make the therapist a "connection" preferably for heroin, failing that for substitute drugs, and failing that for "therapeutic" games. Unless all three are refused, constructive treatment cannot begin. Similar considerations may apply to other types of patients as well, particularly "Alcoholics." February 12. Eric Berne: "A Schizoid Adolescent." B was in difficulties because be was trying to do two things at once: psychiat ric treatment and preventive psychiatry. The problem was how to "treat" an adolescent while at the same time trying to prevent her from becoming pregnant or drug-addicted, both of which were imminent dangers. He could "fink" on her by informing the parents andlor advising institutionalization, in which case the patient would win and probably be permanently lost to therapeutic access. Or he could "chicken out" by calling a family conference (without informing on her) ("Look How Hard I'm Trying"), by "firing" her, or by priggishly advising transfer to another therapist (e.g., "After careful consideration I have decided that she needs a female therapist"); in which case the patient would also win, with similar unfavorable results. With such a hard game player, success depended entirely on B being able to settle things between himself and the patient without calling in outside assistance. The crucial point was why did the patient keep coming; she was aware of that, and carefully refrained from committing herself to a work able answer, since she knew that would end the testing game. The Seminar felt that in some way B was doing the right thing or the patient would not keep coming. They advised him not to fink out or chicken out, but to sweat it out until he discovered what he was doing right. He agreed, since
55

otherwise he would not learnanything and would have wasted the time he had invested in the case. Furthermore, if, he did not sweat it;out, he could never again advise anyone else to sweat it out, but could only add to the general panic pervading the therapy of adolescents. Follow-up: The patient is now arguing the advantages of being crazy and the disadvantages of getting better. She is willing to listen to the therapist's counterarguments, poor though theyy are. February 19. Eric Berne: "A Game of Good Housekeeping." B presented a.-fifth ..session in familyy therapy which started out as a game of'CourtRoom ("She is supposed to wash the dishes but"). By meticulous enquiry into details, two family games were dissected out: "Let's Make Mother (Daughter) Sorry" and "Now I've Got You ,. Father (Daughter)" 0; The mother; soon perceived that. she had learned this game at her own mother's knee. Guilt, anger, and maryrdom tussles between mother and. daughter, and There You Go Again pouncing between father and daughter were all based on,the position "We are not-OK unless we have instant dishwashing:' When the mother was able to shift (without prompting) to "We can be OK -.even with dilatory dishwashing;" she discovered that being friends with her daughter was more fun than playing "Leis Make Daughter Sorry." Furthermore the dishes got washed faster. The teen-age daughter was much more aware that games were being played than her parents were, and laughingly and willingly abandoned them when her parents stopped bugging her. Comfortable geniality was established all round. February 26. G. Haiberg, W. R. Sefness, & E. Berne: "Destiny and Script Choices." See Page 59. . March 5. Pat Jiminez: "Group Work with the Aged." J supervised student nurses in group work with the aged as part of their psychiatric training. Normally the men, ranging in age from 40 to 100, rarely speak to each other "because if, you get involved the other fellow (sic) might die." There were occasional pastimes (reminiscent forms of General Motors, PTA, etc.) but they avoided all games except a mild form of "Alcoholic." In this setting they shied away from the groups until they found that pastimes were OK there too and they need not become involved in games. Transactionally, these were all men who had completed their,scripts and were waiting patiently for Santa. Claus and felt no need of further social. action.. They had done what their parents told them to and the, tranquillity of the old people's home was their just reward, a .temporary limbo in which they could wait for Santa Claus -- death. Some of them liked to exhibit their diplomas (expired union cards, for example). They probably avoided seeing the attractive young nurses as women. When a member of the group died, the men treated it as a-news item. The students became anxious and attributed the men's matter of fact attitude to "denial." This was a pastime situation for the students also. Since they were not graded on their work, there was no incentive to play games. There was no way in which either the supervisor, the students, or the men could exploit the situation to get fired. Hence there was no opportunity for brink or alibi games. Thus while there were no payoffs, everybody could get some mild pastime enjoyment from the situation. Since J presented the material transactional ly, a clear picture, free of irrelevancies, emerged relatively rapidly, leaving ample time for pertinent dis cussion. March 12 & 19. Franklin Ernst: "Group Treatment in a Prison." (Tapes). E abandoned "group therapy" (support, encouragement, sharing, togetherness, helpfulness and "expression of feeling") in favor of group treatment
56

(psychiatric prevention of criminal behavior). The result was a tighter and more direct approach, with proceedings seemingly more productive than the usual "Ain't It Awful," "You Gotta Listen," and "How Do I Get Out Of Here" of con ventional prison "therapy" groups. Examples: (a) Following his usual custom, he read to the group the report he was sub mitting to the parole board regarding inmate G. Inmate F asked: "How do we know that's what you're actually going to submit?" E replied: "Why are you but ting in? Your report won't come up for at least two years." This abruptly aborted F's obvious attempt to initiate "Let's You And Him Fight." (b) When E asked J in proper context: "So which do you prefer, sex or heroin?" and did not give Parental indications of which was the "right" answer, J complained: "You're trying to trick me," a complaint he could not support. In general, authentic replies from E were labelled "tricks" by the inmates; this therapist really wanted to cure them, and refused to play "group therapy" according to the rules they had learned from others. He refused cliche bait like "participation," "my father," and "reject" in favor of finding out what they were really up to. (c) If they got into treatment, they might not get out until they were better; with "group therapy" they might get a fast gold star for the parole board. Worse than that, they feared that if they were cured they would not be able to get into prison again when the outside world became too difficult.

SOCIAL DYNAMICS
PREPARING FOR GROUP WORK WITH ADOLESCENT OFFENDERS
Paul McCormick

A probation officer whose main duty is finding jobs for teen-age offenders wants to develop better job candidates by using transactional analysis in group therapy. His contract with the County requires him to try to rehabilitate proba tioners and to report their law violations. How can he be an employment specialist, a therapist, and a law enforcer, all for the same group? First he can describe his three duties to the group and allot a portion of each session to job-placement talk. The therapy portion will always be contaminated by the conduct-surveillance function, necessitating a compromise. The PO's conscience must dictate the extent but not the nature of the compromise. Confid entiality cannot be guaranteed. The Seminar's answers to other specific questions: (1) A volunteer group would probably include too many players of the same kind of obsequious game. (2) Compulsory attendance would not ensure success in treatment. (3) Written records of the sessions could distract the therapist from a group member's current condition. (4) Race should probably be considered in selecting members because a disproportionate number of a racial minority in the group could unite in game like behavior, and the therapist would be left with few allies in analyzing these transactions. The PO's Parent, inclined to prove "they don't want to get better" by pro viding sound advice, and the PO's Child, fond of "we're all in this together" assurances, will have to yield to the scientifically grounded, unsentimental Adult, and to the observations of the alert Professor (the Child's Adult).
67

CLINICAL NOTES
GAMES PLAYED BY ALCOHOLICS Robert L. Goulding

During the past year the writer has treated approximately 50 alcoholics in groups. Some of these have been in with their wives or husbands, some have been in mixed groups, and some have been in special "alcoholic" groups. All have been exposed to Alcoholics Anonymous, and have had primary control of their drinking through that organization. Some have been looking for further understanding of their problems; others have not been able to control `their drinking completely with AA, and are looking for further help. Game analysis has been systematically used, and. some results are given in the following illustrations. In one couple the wife was the alcoholic, w h o would start to drink when her husband was away working at night for long periods. He would then return to the home, take care of her in a Parent-Child manner, doing the housework and the laundry (and enjoying the role of Mother), until she was sober. He would then go back to working nights, and after a short time she would start drinking again. Once they had analysed and understood the game, they succeeded in finding another kind of relationship. She has been sober for over a year, and they are developing new intimacy without resorting to game playing. The husband in another couple was noted in the group to start little games of Uproar, then sit back and chuckle in the manner of a Spectator. As he became awaree of the game in the group, he was able to understand how he started Uproar at home,, which led to his wife's drinking and becoming a Comedienne. As their social control increased at home, they were able to understand' how the game. prevented. sexual intimacy.. They were then able to work directly on the problems of sexual intimacy, which involved incest fantasies on her part. She has been sober for well o v e r a year; her periods of panic prior to intercourse have ceased; their Adults are still working on the mutual sexual. problems; he still plays Courtroom, at her instigation, but both are able to see it before.the game gets too serious, so that they can abort it. Another patient who had been drinking for 17 years had worked with AA but had not been able to control his alcoholism. He was finally hospitalized. During the first six months of group therapy, during which he was given a chance to drink while out on passes, it became evident' that the drinking covered an underlying depression. He had a stern and severe Parent who was constantly chastising his Child. Alcohol anaesthetized the Parent, giving' the patient tem porary relief, but the Parent would always return the next day; the patient would then beat his hands against the wall, twice breaking bones, or suffering in other ways. After his game was finally understood as a defense against the depression, he began to drink less and to handle the depression directly, so that he has now been sober for several months. These examples indicate thatt the cessation of game-playing by "alcoholics" allows the underlying problems to emerge more clearly so that the patient. can cope with them more directly. sa

DESTINY AND SCRIPT CHOICES


Gordon Haiberg, W. R. Se f ness, and Eric Berne An unknown patient, Andri, telephoned for an emergency appointment after hours. Once alone with the doctor, he said that he had come "to kill a psychiatrist." He had been isolated for combativeness in several state hospitals, diagnosed paranoid schizophrenia. The doctor said his job was to get people better. Andri, with great agitation, retreated to a far corner of the room to discuss it. The doctor said the first step would be to get a job so he could pay for his treatment. He asked Andri if he could stop acting oddly during working hours and act oddly on his own time. The patient said he thought that was possible. Another appointment was arranged. That night the patient committed suicide. The hospital records were reviewed at the Seminar. They corroborated the patient's story. In his outside employment he had been more subtly aggressive and defiant, and physically destructive of machinery "accidentally." He had once written his hospital doctor saying that his favorite song was about the dying cowboy from Laredo. In script terms, each individual has four destiny choices in ordinary civil life, corresponding to the four basic positions*: (1) Getting better (staying well) (I OK, You OK) (2) Getting rid of people (homicide) (I OK, You not-OK) (3) Psychosis or criminality (institutionalization or melancholic suicide) (I notOK, You OK) (4) Despairing self-destruction (futility suicide) (I not-OK, You not-OK) Andri's first choice was (2) to kill. The doctor succeeded in warding this off by offering (1) get better, and sounding business-like about it. He then boxed out (3) "going crazy." After the interview, Andri, deprived of (2) and (3), did not think he would make it on (1) and therefore was left with only despair (4). A fifth alternative is the non-choice of (5) continuing the same old games. Andri's script followed the classical dramatic scheme* (Aristotle, Freytag) with complete fidelity. First he played and tested his games with rising intensity (5). His visit to the doctor was the climax. Deprived of (2) and (3), the action fell with his temporary acceptance of (1). Then came the catastrophe (4). The Seminar meeting itself was the threnody. The clinical problem was how to recognize the patient's script (the dying cowboy) in the mass of material he presents, and how seriously to take it. This is more easily done by hindsight than by foresight. If it is recognized, what can be done about it? The best way to recognize it is to look for it. When it is found, the patient should be told about the five alternatives in language his Child can understand (since the Child is the master of his destiny): (1) "Get better" (2) "Get rid of people" (3) "Go crazy" (4) "Knock yourself off" and (5) "Play the same old games." Only by a clear understanding between the patient's Child and his Adult can the march towards doom sometimes be reversed by the Adult taking control. An interesting facet of Andri's case was his preparation for a tragic climax. Before coming to see the doctor, when his employment was terminated, he had given away nearly all his money to his co-workers, of whom all but one were taken in by his "generosity." When this one rebuked the others, they returned the money. The technical problem of the doctor during the interview was also of some interest. He knew that if he said anything to Andri that reminded him of his father, he might get involved in a rather critical physical struggle. At the same time, he had no information whatever about Andri's father, nor was it
4

"Classification of Positions." TAB 1: 23, July, 1962. Transactional Analysis in Psychotherapy (Borne), p. 117. 59

wise nor even useful to ask. He was thus involved in a high stake poker game where all his cards were face up' and all of his opponent's were face down. The only actual conflict occurred when the doctor opened a window so that he might at least have a chance to call for help..Andri immediately walked over and closed it, saying that he did not like street noises. Here they accepted each other's actions in a friendly objective way for what they were: moves in an interesting if deadly game. Many psychiatrists have probably had similar experiences, some of which .may have ended less tragically. The outcome of this one depended on the patient's script,. and stresses the importance of developing script analysis, since conventional clinical knowledge is largely irrelevant in such urgent confrontations with ambulatory patients. THE TREATMENT OF NARCOTIC ADDICTS IN A CORRECTIONAL SETTING
William Collins

(Tape)

'The new California Rehabilitation Center has a mandatory three year parole program as follow-up supervision to the treatment program for addicts. Those committed are not felons, but civil> commitments, held for an indeterminate period. This program offers.a rare opportunity to discover more about drug-users and their games. A taperecording of one of the writer's, therapy; groups at the Centre illustrated this. Using the transactional analytic approach it is still difficult to hook an addict's Adult and thereby encourage more meaningful transactions. This is partly due to the Child "gimmick" of being bored with life in general, including normal family relationships and relationships with. those in the role of "rescuers," be they clergy, therapists or Narcotics Anonymous members. On the tape, the addicts sounded "bored." They supported, each others' phlegmatism with statements like "You know, man . "Yeah I know," or other statements aimed at supporting an individual's lazy Child without demanding anything of the Adult. The Seminar felt that this was a rather subtle game of "Uproar," and that a therapist had the responsibility of shocking such patients occasionally. It was suggested that addict-patients actually do not want to. stop using drugs;. further, that some are probably continuing to use them even in the institution. There are some special points to bee kept in mind in working with such' people: 1. They should not be looked at as being merely "addicts" any more than one 'would deal with an . alchoholic on the basis that ,his alcoholism was the problem. 2. They are game players. Many are "Cops and Robbers" players whose addiction is merely one form of getting away with something, until the need to be caught overrides the physio-psychological satisfaction obtained from drugs. 3. It is difficult to treat an addict group because all members of the circle are playing the same game, or variations thereof. To illustrate, an individual may speak of a particular relationship with a drug-providing "connection," or the manner in which he used a wife or mother as a "Patsy." The other men in the group immediately laugh, nod their heads, or give some other indication of understanding. It is only the therapist's urging to dissect out the individual's Adult and evaluate the transactions and relationships more clearly that brings the members to examine their behavior. Their reluctance may again be part of their "bored" attitude.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
"The Structure and Dynamics of Organizations and Groups" was published in February by Lippincott, and is now available in the bookshops. (See adver tisement, p. 63) The tentative title "The Therapy of Ailing Groups" was abandoned because of its ambiguity, and the original title, as above, was restored. Until this publication there was no literature available on the transactional theory of group dynamics, which was so often used at the Seminars in analysing. administrative situations. These problems, which up to now have been handled by a kind of "oral tradition," can henceforth be formally considered with full knowledge by those who study the book. This publication also closes the main gap in the Teaching Outline (TAB Supplement #1), since it gives the information necessary for Lecture #5. Grove Press reports that the book on games, "Games People Play," will not be published until the fall. When this book appears, it will fill in more detail for Lectures #3 & #4 of the Outline. Thomas Szasz in "The Myth of Mental Illness" (1961) talks about the games played by psychiatric patients. The application of transactional game theory to specific psychiatric disorders was developed at the Seminars between 1958 and 1960, and was formally enunciated there in June 1960 in Course 103, "The Psychopathology of Schizophrenia," which ran for six lectures. The essential key to understanding clinical games is structural analysis, and without a clear definition of ego states attempts to deal with games remain tentative and unconvincing. The same applies to "transactional therapy" as promulgated (without structural analysis) by Grinker's group in Chicago. The first "outsider" to recognize the importance of structural analysis in analysing transactions and games was R. H. Gundlach in "Group Psychotherapy: New Clinical and Experimental Approches." Progress in Clinical Psychology 4: 149-168 (Grune & Stratton, New York, 1960). S. R. Slavson's determination to eradicate transactional analysis (along with existential analysis and "contractural" group therapy) was mentioned in our last issue. Franklin Ernst's article, "Use of Transactional Analysis in Prison Therapy Groups," is abstracted on the next page. There is some interest on the part of educators in doing research on "classroom" games. One proposal is to use both mathematical and transactional game theory. Transactional analysts desiring to became familiar with the mathemat ical theory of games might consult R. D. Luce & H. Raiffa, Games and Decisions, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1957. (See TAB 1:24, July. 1962).

Transactional Analysis Bulletin, Supplement #1, has been published for the benefit of those teaching this subject clinically or academically. It is entitled Outline For An Introductory Course In Transactional Analysis and Social Dynamics. The first edition is 13 pages in mimeograph, interleaved with blank foolscap pages for instructors' notes, giving topical headings for a course of eight lectures. Subscriptions at $2.00 may be sent to Transactional Analysis Bulletin, P. O. Box 5747, Carmel, California.

ABSTRACT.
USE OF TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS IN PRISON THERAPY GROUPS

Franklin HT. Ernst, M. D. (Journal o f Social Therapy 8: No. 8, 1962).

A brief definition of the prison setting in which the author works is followed by a description of the size, diagnostic composition and frequency of meetings of the psychotherapy groups at the California Medical Facility. Groups in the prison average about twice as many members as is usual (8 to 15 members). A synopsis. of structural analysis and its introduction to the inmate groups is outlined. One of the clinical examples given; demonstratesto the reader the functional significance of transactional analysis to the inmate group members when one inmate pointed out appropriately the therapist's parental involvement with a second man. The contractual element of treating a patient in a prison is discussed. The feature of treating an inmate psychotherapeutically for a specific and agreed upon reason offers both the therapist and other group members additional thera peutic leverage against the advantages derived from "writing phony checks" to the therapist in the' group, "embezzling" group time, "strong armed robbery" on the therapist, "till tapping" other members' minds while apparently playing "I'm Only Trying To Help You. An analysis of the "narcotic addict game" is included. The author's conclusions are as follows: 1. Transactional analysis has offered a method of studying group therapy conversations in terms of stimulus-response phenomena'. 2. The theoretical framework and interpretive terminology are comprehen sible. to the inmate-patients and usable by them with the some precision of meaning as used by the therapist. 3. Each man's behavior is viewed and handled by the therapist and the group as a response to a stimulus and as giving him psychological and social advantages. 4. Attendance improved after the transactional analytic method was introduced. (Author's Abstract) "Reprints available. from F. H.. Ernst, M. D., 408 Tennessee, Vallejo, California. A LIVING PROBLEM "THEY ARE ALL KILLING EACH OTHER"
Cyprian St. Cyr

A man with delusions of persecution was asked: "Under what conditions, walking down the street, would you decide that everybody was insane except yourself?" He replied: "If they were all killing each other." That sounds reason able enough, but leaves room for doubt. For example: A stranger with a long history of insanity confronts you and says he is going to kill you. On ethical grounds, of course, you object. Give two or more rational grounds on which you could object.
62

INTRODUCTORY COURSE COMPLETED


WINTER INTRODUCTORY COURSE Course 101K, Introductory Social Dynamics, began on February 13 and was completed on April 3. There were 33 enrollees, the largest number since the first Introductory Course (101A) in 1959, and about double the usual attendance. We were once more privileged to have two car pools from Stockton commute to San Francisco every Wednesday evening to attend, consisting largely of staff members from Stockton State Hospital. One correctional counsellor commuted each week all the way from Tehachapi near Los Angeles, and another group came from Lafayette. Among other places represented were San _Jose State College, San Francisco State College, Oakland City College, University of the Pacific, California Medical Facility, Kaiser Center, Pedregal Center, U.S. Navy & Navy Hospital, Berkeley & Dixon School Districts, San Joaquin, Palo Alto, and the University of California. Professionally, physicians and social workers were the most numerous. There was a gratifying increase in the number of psychologists and sociologists; some of them may go on to the advanced seminar so that their viewpoints can be heard there more frequently. There were also representatives from nursing, music therapy, occupational therapy, recreational therapy, corrections, education, and the ministry.

from Lippincott a book of MAJOR importance


THE STRUCTUflf ROD DDflflfICS Of

HER

TIODS ROD

GROUPS by ERIC BERNE, M.'D.


A systematic framework for the treatment and cure of ailing groups and organizations. The most recent advances in the fields of group psychotherapy, group dynamics and organization management are covered in detail; and the principles of transactional and game analysis are skillfully incorporated, offering an over-all as well as a detailed analysis of the functioning and breakdown of groups and organizations. The study is divided into four sections: An Illustrative Analysis of a Group Meeting; The Group as a Whole; The Individual in the Group and Applied Social Psychiatry. The various sections cover the make-up of the group, the motivations and operations of its members, what can go wrong and what can be done in the way of prevention or cure of these ills. The technics presented are suitably broad and are applicable to groups of any size or purpose. The specific examples cited are drawn from history, politics, business, scientific organizations and psychotherapy groups. This is a book for all those who are concerned in any way with groups and what can interrupt their smooth operation. It will hold particular fascination f o r psychiatrists, psychologists, sociologists, social scientists, social psychologists, political scientists and pastoral psychologists - as well as all who are active in positions of leadership. An annotated bibliography of the world litera ture and a useful glossary of terms are provided as appendices. 260 Pages 37 Illustrations 1963 $7.50

J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY
East Washington Square Philadelphia 5, Pa. In Canada: 4865 Western Ave., Montreal 6, P.O.

Advertisement On this page we publish our first commercial advertisement: a small and luxurious notch in our Spartan development. It is hoped that readers who order the book will use the coupon or mention the Bulletin in order to establish our value as an advertising medium.

Please send me: 11 THE STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS $7.50 Name ...............................................

Address

....................................................................

City............................................Zone..........State............. ( ) Payment Enclosed ( ) Charge and Bill Me

TAB 4-63

63

NEWS FROM OUTSIDE


WYOMING Loyd Breakey, one of our Members At Large, is now' Director of the Big Horn Basin Mental Health Center in Cody, Wyoming. He sends us the following informal account of his activities there. "In this job I- find myself as the sole practitioner in the Mental Health field in four counties in Northwestern Wyoming. This area (which in cludes Yellowstone Park) covers a population of some 44,000 people. Included in this are various people such as artists, petroleum company engineers,,' troubled housewives and unproductive school children and now and then :the troubled cowboy. Would that (the seminars) could come here for some of (their field trips). The nights are long when it is 30 degrees below,. however. the annual consumption of antifreeze serves its purpose and as, far as I know, there were no local deaths from the recent cold weather, indicating, I believe, that the anti-freeze was wisely and adequately used. "In daily practice] fall back on whatever I believe will be of help in the situation. As the nearest psychiatrist is 120 miles away and in an other state, the' setting encourages self-sufficiency. I have found structural and transactional analysis to be helpful to a degree which should be very pleasing to you. "Just before the Center opened here the local populace heard a great deal of (anti-mental health) material and has viewed the proceedings with some skepticism. Twenty miles away, at Powell, I've talked about Ego states to one group of High School teachers. A reputation as a prophet is in direct proportion to the distance from home; at Worland, ninety-two miles away, 1 have found many eager audiences. Classes have been organized and completed there with a group of A.A.U.W. women, a group of city, county and state employees and six separate .groups of teachers, which by administrative fiat, have covered, all of the one hundred plus teachers in the school system. I am now carrying the message to all school administrators there and now have hopes . that a more effective organization can be carried out at the top where, I believe, it is always a good place to start if one had the necessary leverage and, sales ability; The coordinator of Elementary Education there has commented that he can notice a marked difference in the number and nature :of problems that teachers are bringing to him this year. There is a marked decrease in their tendency to see students as 'lazy or ornery.' The questions are much better focussed. The use of (transactional: analysis) has apparently been effective in getting across the idea that behavior is purposeful and meaningful. "An Episcopalian minister over in the northeastern corner of our area received an impromptu and gratis lession in transactional analysis in a cocktail lounge one evening. He subsequently became a game watcher and has reported with considerable pleasure, identifying the game of "Pounce." "I recently had the pleasure of looking over the draft of a book that hopefully will soon be published by Ernst Beier, a psychologist at the University of Utah. Dr. Beier made some very interesting comments

about the way the child learns to communicate and manipulate at a covert level and seemed interested in my pointing out that all he had to do was add a capital letter to child. I understand that Dr. Beier will be appearing on a panel in the near future with you. It is my impression that Dr. Beier has a great deal to offer the field and contacts with two of his students have left me very impressed with what they are doing. While he had not identified Games as such, I think he and his students are past masters at the skill of sensing that a Game is being attempted by the patient and in avoiding the trap. "The invitation to come "Cowboying" is a standing invitation to you and all the members of the group." The Seminar members agreed that it would be good if all mental health establishments had such healthy sounding titles as this one. The address is Big Horn Basin Mental Health Center, 715 Sheridan Avenue, Cody, Wyoming, for any transactional analysts who visit Yellowstone or the Custer country. LOS ANGELES Dr. Jack Jurasky reports on an administrative experiment he carried out with Dr. James Jackson in an attempt to break up a conventional game of SNAFU at a Mental Health Clinic in North Hollywood. When they began, there was a 1 1/2 year waiting list and the clinic was seeking financial assistance. By instituting some unconventional but effective intake procedures (requesting intake fee in advance, seeing families as a unit), the waiting list was disposed of in one month and the clinic was functioning on a walk-in basis. When these procedures were suspended, the waiting list grew rapidly again and once more the need for additional funds became pressing. Dr. Jurasky interpreted these results to the local press according to game theory. In essence, clinic efficiency is dim inished by "I'm Only Trying To Help You" and SNAFU. (See TAB #2, p. 12). Dr. Jurasky declined both games in favor of increased clinic services without increase in funds. The results were sufficiently impressive for the San Fernando Valley District of the Los Angeles County Medical Association to adopt an official resolution approving further plans for a trial period of one year. ADOLESCENT GROUPS Transactional analysis is becoming increasingly popular as an approach with groups of adolescents. The results are particularly interesting with the children of patients who are themselves in transactional groups. Dr. Robert Goulding, of Roseburg, Oregon, and Dr. David Kupfer of Carmel, California, both have groups of this type. One interesting finding, which can be easily verified by any skilful clinician, is that adolescents are much more aware that they are playing games, and what those games are, than was previously thought, and become objective and amused about their own games much more easily than grown-ups do about grown-up games. A THOUGHT FOR SPRING "Dissection in the fourteenth century did no more, and was asked to do no more, than verify Avicenna - whom nobody doubted." - C. Singer, A Short History of Anatomy and Physiology
65

ORGANIZATIONAL NEWS
New Quarters . The. Seminars are now conducted in new and slightly larger and more comfortable quarters across the hall from their former home. This is needful, since both 101 and 202 have approximately doubled in size. For former members who; are nostalgic, the cable cars now run rightt outside our window, so that our proceedings are-puncuated.by the merry clang of the gripman's, bell. First Summer Conference Tentative plans are being discussed for holding our first summer conference sometime in August, 1963, in the vicinity of Monterey, California, perhaps at the`Asiloma.r Conference Grounds. This would be scheduled as a pleasant and instructive week-end when members and other interested people from various parts'of the country and from other countries could get together for formal and informal discussions. The proposed program would resemble the following: Section P Saturday Morning: "Changing . Concepts' of (pertinent topic)" Section Al Introductory Workshop in Transactional Analysis Section A2' Saturday Afternoon and Sunday Morning: Clinical Papers and Reports Section A3 Sunday Afternoon: Recent Advances in Transactional Analysis Section C1 Friday Evening: Party and, Field Trip Saturday: Beverages, Dinner, Old Fashioned Graduation Party Sunday: Farewell and Beach Picnic, Section C2 Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Completely Unstructured Time It would' be appreciated if interested readers would write the Bulletin (Box 5747, Carmel) expressing their interest so that we could have some idea of what kind of turnout might be expected. Scenic Monterey, a suburb of quaint Carmel, is 125 miles from glamorous San Francisco,' just above picturesque Big Sur, and on the road' to industrious, Hollywood. Travelling expenses are presumably deductible. PERSONALS Ken Everts is resigning after five years as consultant with the CTEA in Oakland because of scientific differences concerning the nature of "alcoholism" and the direction which research into this "problem should take. Frances Matson has resigned, as social work supervisor for, similar reasons. Mary Michelson has. resigned from the San Mateo County Adult Probation Department. She has .been accepted by the, Peace Corps and assigned to Rio de Janeiro,, where she will work in the Favelas. Mary Miles, an old friend of. the Seminars, who resigned from:the San Mateo County Adult Probation Department, is now with the California Youth Authority where she supervises graduate students in social work. Viola Litt is now with the Reception and Guidance Center at Vacaville Medical Facility, where she is the first permanent female correctional counsellor. GEORGE George now goes to church regularly so that he can become a good Christian with the help of the money we send him. The doctor came to
66

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Seminar 202, Transactional Analysis in Clinical Practice, will continue to meet every Tuesday evening* through July at 8:30 p. m. at the office of Eric Berne, M.D., 1200 Washington Street in San Francisco. Professional visitors are welcome. It is suggest that they check in advance by telephone, PRospect 6-4256, and they are requested not to arrive before 8:20 p.m. There is no fee for this Seminar, but those who come regularly may wish to become Active Members. *The May 7 meeting will be omitted because of the American Psychiatric Association Convention in St. Louis. During the Spring Quarter, it is anticipated that therapy groups, clinical situations, and tapes will be presented for transactional and game analysis, interpersed with special lectures, didactic-clinical discussions, and problems of group and organizational dynamics. FALL INTRODUCTORY COURSE The next Introductory Course will be offered at the end of September, 1963. Those desiring to be notified of the exact time should send their names to Tran sactional Analysis Bulletin, Box 5747, Carmel, California. Formal announcements will be sent out after Labor Day.

USC WORKSHOP IN TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS A two-day workshop in transactional analysis will be conducted by E. Berne at Idyllwild on May 11 & 12 under the auspices of the Department of Sociology of the University of Southern California and the American Association of Marriage Counsellors. While this course is primarily for members of the Association, anyone else desiring to attend may apply for details to Dr. Howard Clinebell, Associate Professor of Pastoral Counseling, School of Theology at Claremont, California.

APA MEETING IN ST. LOUIS Those attending the APA Convention in St. Louis are invited to hear the paper on "Principles of Transactional Analysis," to be presented by the Chairman of the Seminars on Thursday, May 9, at 2 p.m. At 7 p.m. several of our members will participate in round table HH, "Group Therapy Research Developments." We hope to have a field trip after that.

EXTRAMURAL TEACHING During the past quarter, the regular teaching of transactional analysis con tinued at Langley-Porter Clinic, Stanford-Palo Alto Psychiatric Clinic, McAuley Clinic, California Medical Facility, Mendocino, Stockton, and DeWitt State Hospitals, and the V.A. Hospital at Roseburg, Oregon. Several new teaching projects are also under way. Kenneth Everts is supervising the residents at Herrick Hospital in group therapy. Ray Poindexter is con sultant in industrial psychiatry at a Naval facility in Alameda. Eric Berne is giving a series of lectures to the staff of the U. S. Naval Postgraduate & Line School, with the staff wives also attending. He is also giving another course for the Faculty of the School of Nursing at Stanford. In addition there have been requests for the Teaching Outline (TAB Supplement #1) from various parts of the country, so presumably the teaching of transactional analysis is now fairly widespread.

The Seminars The San Francisco Social Psychiatry Seminars function as an educational institute for people in the broad field of social psychiatry: psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses and social workers, correctional officers, social scientists, and educators. The teaching is primarily oriented toward group therapy and group work' based on transactional analysis. Research in social. dynamics is carried on as funds, become available. Since there is no endowment, the Seminars, now in.their sixth year, have been almost entirely supported from tuition fees. Contributions are always welcome. The Seminars are open to those with a degree in medicine or the social sciences who are engaged in professional work in those fields orr are registered for advanced study at a recognized university. In certain cases, well-recommended undergraduates are eligible to attend. Professional workers aree always welcome to visit the permanent clinical seminar (Course No. . 202) which runs all year round, and can become Active Members, if otherwise eligible, on completion of the Introductory Course or its equivalent. Active , members who leave the San Francisco area or for other reasons cannot continue regular attendance are invited to become Members At Large ($10 per year, or $5 per year for students). They will receive the Bulletin and retain their attendance and voting privileges. Professional workers who wish to receive the Bulletin and have the privilege of attending the Seminars whenever they are in San Francisco may become Associate Members ($5 per year). Subscriptions to the Bulletin are available to institutions and libraries at $3 per year. The Seminars meet in mid-week at 1200 Washington Street, San Francisco. Correspondence regarding attendance should be addressed to the Secretary, San Francisco Social Psychiatry Seminars, 1010 Franklin Street, San Francisco. Those desiring mail membership (At Large or Associate) may fill in the coupon below.

NOW IS THE TIME TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP


JUST PUT YOUR CHECK IN AN ENVELOPE AND SEND TO THE ADDRESS BELOW

Send to: T. A. Bulletin, P. O. Member At Large ( ) ($10) Associate Member ( ) ($5)

Box 5747, Carmel, California


Student Member At Large ( ) ( $5 ) Subscriber ( ) ($3)

Please enroll--me in the San Francisco Social Psychiatry Seminars as a

Name:_________________________________________________________________ Address :_____________________________________________

Profession: ________________________________________________________ _ Degree: ________________________________________________________ Affiliation: ________________________________________________________ Check enclosed ( ) Send, bill ( ) (U.K. 6/- per dollar)

You might also like