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!!