TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS

GREESHMA. TS4 MSW

- TA was formulated by ERIC BERNE (1960s)

- Berne’s Games People Play(1964) & Thomas Harris’s I’m OK You’re OK(1947)

- Eric Berne was born n 1910 in Montreal, Canada- TA is a model of psychotherapy and theory of personality

which integrates psychoanalytic concept with humanistic philosophy

HISTORY1955-1962 – First Phase Developed Concept Of Ego States.

1962-1966 - Second Phasehe concentrated on ideas about games and transactions.

1966-1970- Third PhaseHe emphasized the reasons some individuals choose to play certain games in

life.

1970 – OnwardsHe emphasised action and energy distribution

View Of Human Nature- TA is an optimistic theory- Its basic assumption is the people can change despite any

unfortunate events of the past- TA is also anti- anti deterministic, believing that people

have choices in their lives

BASIC PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS

1. People are born OK: psychological disturbances is acquired.

2. People are capable of thinking independently(unless severely brain damaged)

3. People are responsible for the decision they made, and their consequences.

1. STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS – understanding what is happening within the individual.

2. TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS – Describing what happens between two or more people.

3. GAME ANALYSIS – understanding transactions between individuals that lead to bad feelings.

4. SCRIPT ANALYSIS – understanding the life plan that an individual is following

STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

Berne defines an ego state is “a consistent pattern of feeling and experience directly related to a corresponding consistent pattern of behavior”

Ego States are dynamic aspects of personalityExteropsyche - ParentNeopsyche - AdultArcheopsyche - Child

Typical Behaviors

Advising

Criticizing

Ordering

Telling

Fault Finding

Moralizing

Scolding

Nurturing

Caring

Loving

Fact FindingQuestioning

AnalyzingProblem Solving

HelpingCooperating

PlanningCoordinatingScheduling

Thinking

Laughing

Crying

Sulking

Being Frightened

Playing

Enjoying

Dancing

Curiosity

Obeying

Dependent

PARENT ADULT CHILD

1.CHILD EGO STATE• First ego state to develop is the child, which is that part of

personality characterized by child like behaviours and feelings.

• The child ego state is the archive of a person’s total life experience to date, moments of which may be evoked and re-experienced in the present.

• When we are in the child ego state we act like child we once were.

• The ego states are fully experienced states of being, not just roles.

3 Types -

1. Natural Child - When the child is hateful or loving, impulsive, spontaneous or playful, self centered.

2. Adapted Child – the complaining part of personality that confirms wishes and demands of parental figures

3. Little Professor – when it is thoughtful, creative or imaginative

2. PARENTAL EGO STATE• The parent ego state incorporates the attitudes and

behaviours(the don’ts, should, and ought) of parental figures

• In the parent ego state ‘introjected’ parent figures from the past are evoked in the present. They are the beliefs, mannerisms and emotional responses of an actual parent from the past

• Outwardly the messages are delivered through prejudice, criticism, and nurturing behaviour

Parental Ego State:

1. Nurturing Parent – who comforts praises and aids others.

2. Critical Parent – who finds fault, displays prejudices, disapproves and prevents others from feeling good about themselves.

3. ADULT EGO STATE• The adult ego state is the congruent, aware person attuned to

themselves and their environment , who responds congruently without the contamination of parental prejudice or childhood fantasy

• When the adult ego is in control, people behave in a thinking, rational, calculating, factual, unemotional manner.

•  The adult gathers information, reasons things out, estimate probabilities and makes decision with cool and calm behavior.

• When communicating in the adult ego state, you avoid becoming the victim of the other person by controlling your response to the situation.

• Generally, the most effective behavior, human relations, and performance come from the adult ego state. 

• When interacting with others, you should

be aware of their ego state. 

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BASIC HUMAN EGO STATES(PERSONALITY STATES)

THREE BASIC EGO STATES

FURTHER BREAKDOWN OF EGO STATES

P(PARENT)

A(ADULT)

C(CHILD)

CRITICAL PARENT

NURTURING PARENT

ADULT

ADAPTED CHILD

NATURAL CHILD

LECTURING, CRITICIZING, MANY “OUGHTS”, “SHOULD” &”DON’TS”

CONSOLING, “TAKING CARE” OF OTHERS, SYMPATHY

OBJECTIVE, RATIONAL, ORIENTED TOWARD PROBLEM SOLVING, DE-EMPHASIZE EMOTION

MODIFIED BEHAVIOUR TO CONFORM TO ADULT EXPECTATIONS, MANUPULATIVE, SUMBISSIVE

PLAYFUL, IMPULSIVE, NATULRALLY CURIOUS &CREATIVE, FUN LOVING, REBELLIOUS

TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS

• These are the basic unit of communication.

• Transactions occur when a person relates to another person

• Each transaction is made up of a stimulus and a response

• Within ego states there are three different  types of transaction: complementary, crossed, and ulterior

• Two basic levels of transactions:1. Social level – which is observable2. Psychological level – which is sensed.

A basic rule of communication is that when transactions are made at both levels, the outcome will be determined at the ulterior, psychological level

1.Complementary Transaction

• Both persons are operating either from the same ego state or from complementary ego states.

• Responses are predictable and appropriate.

Crossed Transaction

• An inappropriate ego state is activated, producing an unexpected response.

• Crossed transactions hurt.• Persons tend to withdraw from each other or switch topics

Ulterior Transaction

• Transaction is one in which two ego states operates simultaneously and one message disguises the other.

• They appear to be complementary and socially acceptable even though they are not

GAME ANALYSIS

• Games are ulteriorly motivated transactions that appear complementary on the surface but end in bad feelings.

• Games are a series of transactions with a familiar pattern and predictable outcome.

• Those who are involved start out in one of three classical game roles : - Persecutor, Rescuer or Victim.

• A game is characterized by the sudden switching of roles and the collection of a payoff.

STROKE

• These games are played outside awareness as a means of generating familiar, often negative, unit of recognition or ‘stroke’

• Stroke – the fundamental unit of social action• A stroke is a unit of recognition, when one person recognizes

another person either verbally or non verbally.

• In infancy strokes are essential for survival and comes mainly from close physical contact with a primary parent figures..

• Later strokes are symbolized by word and gestures.

• Spitz observed that infants deprived of handling – in other words, not receiving any strokes – were more prone to emotional and physical difficulties.

• Berne took Spitz’s observations of these infants and developed theories about the needs of adults for strokes.

• Berne postulated that adults need physical contact just like infants, but have learned to substitute other types of recognition instead of physical stimulation.

• Berne also reasoned that any stroke, be it positive or negative, is better than no strokes at all.

SCRIPT ANALYSIS

• Everyone makes a life script or life plan, early in childhood, by the age of five.

• Life scripts is constructed in infancy in response to parental influence.

• The scripts passes from consciousness but it is often faithfully acted out.

• Infants, depends on parental figures for survival, reach conclusions based on themselves and others on the basis of perceived messages from parents and adapt accordingly .

• Positive messages given to a child function as permissions and do not limit people in any way.

• Negative messages or injunctions, are more powerful and may become the basis for destructive scripts

• The script decisions in response to these messages reflect a

fundamental belief about the self in relation to others.

Life Positions

1. I’m ok 2. You’re ok 3. I’m not ok4. You’re not ok

ROLE OF THERAPIST• Initial role of being a teacher

• TA uses treatment contracts, the therapist make contracts with the client.

GOALS1. TA focuses on helping clients transform themselves from

‘frogs’ into ‘princes’ and ‘princesses’.

2. It is emphasis is on attaining health and autonomy.

3. Help individuals to identify and restore distorted or damaged ego states

4. The major emphasis of TA is on learning about the self in order to decide who one wishes to become

TECHNIQUES1. TREATMENT CONTRACT A specific , concrete contract that emphasizes agreed upon

responsibilities for both counsellor and client

2. INTERROGATION Speaking to a client’s adult state until the counsellor receives an

adult response

3. EXPLANATION Occurs on an adult to adult ego state level. The counsellor

teaches the client about some aspects of TA

4. ILLUSTRATIONEnlightens the client or elaborate a point

5. CONFIRMATIONUsed when previously modified behaviour occurs again and the

therapist points this out to the client

6. INTERPRETATIONInvolves the therapist’s explanation to the child ego state of the

client the reasons for the client’s behaviour

7. CRYSTALLIZATIONConsists of an adults - to – adults transactions in which the

client comes to an awareness that individuals game playing may be given up if so desired

8. CONFRONTATIONIt involves the therapist’s pointing out inconsistencies in the

client’s behaviour or speech

STAGES OF TREATMENT

1st StageEstablishing a work alliance, mapping the nature problem and

negotiating a preliminary contract

2nd StageDe-contamination of the adult ego state

The therapist help the client to identify the parental prejudices and childhood fantasies that they have used to distort reality and reign force their life script

3rd StageDe- confusing the child ego state and developing an internal nurturing

parent

It is important to establish that they have decided to keep themselves safe, act safely with others and stay touch with the reality

4th StageIntegration of new decisions and bringing to a close therapeutic

relation ship.

This stage often involves the client reviewing other relationships, discovering disowned aspects of their authentic self and experimenting with new ways of being

Transactional Analysis applies to different levels:-

1. The clinical side of therapy.2. The analysis of personality.3. The interpersonal communication.4. The group dynamics.5. The organization analysis (organizational theory of Eric

Berne).6. Used in the domains of education, consulting, training,

coaching, recruitment, skills assessment and organization.

Transactional Analysis Provides Simple Yet Powerful Ways To:

1. Increase understanding in communication with others2. Deal with stress and change healthily3. Handle and resolve conflict4. Understand human behaviour5. Gain autonomy and build self-esteem

STRENGTHS

1. The approach uses terms that are easily understood and clearly defined.

2. The approach is easily and collectively companied with other more action – oriented approaches

3. The approach puts the responsibility of change on the client

4. The approach is goal- directed

CRITICISMS

1. The approach has been criticized for its primary cognitive orientation.

2. The approach is criticized for its simplicity, structure, and popularity

3. The research behind the approach is relatively weak.

4. The approach has not developed much after Berne’s death in 1970

SUMMARY

HISTORYVIEW OF HUMAN NATUREROLE OF THERAPISTGOALSTECHNIQUESTREATMENTAPPLICATIONSTRENGTHSCRITICISMS

Reference

1. www.ericberne.com/transactional-analysis/ accessed date:28/2/16 Time: 2.30 pm

2. www.counselling-directory.org.uk/transactional analysis.html date: 28/2/16 Time: 4.00 pm

3. http://www.transactional-analysis.info/menuglossaire.html Date: 28/2/16 Time: 4.30 pm

4. Stein M Samuel. Essentials of psychotherapy. Oxford Auckland Boston Johannesburg Melbourne. New Delhi.

5. Gladding ,T. Samuel Counseling A Comprehensive Profession. Indian edition published by Dorling Kindersley India pvt ltd 2009

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