Transactional Analysis by Eric Berne : 3 Ego states

Introduction to Transactional Analysis 

Transactional Analysis (TA) is a psychotherapeutic approach, conceptualized and developed by Eric Berne in the 1950s and based on a different model of human behavior and communication. In its simplest form, TA suggests that there are three distinct ego states of the Self: Parent, Adult and Child. These ego states do sort of determine how a person thinks, feels and behaves during interactions with others. 

1. Three Ego States in Transactional Analysis 

Parent:

This ego state consists of told parental rules and beliefs and can have two separate manifestations:

• Nurturing Parent: Cares, nurtures, and guides.
• Critical Parent: Silent criticism, judgement, and disapproval.

Adult:

This is the rational, logical, and objective adult self. It provides information, makes decisions, and solves problems.

Child:

This is the emotional and instinctual part of personality. This can state itself in a few ways:

• Natural Child: Spontaneous, wholesome, and curious.
• Adapted Child: Except in those circumstances where its parents preset rules and expectations.
• Rebellious Child: Again, works against authority and will not obey the rules.  

2. Transactions

Transactions are interactions involving two persons and coordinated by a stimulus and a response. 

• Complementary Transaction: This transaction is an instance in which an expected response is indeed received. For example, an Adult-to-Adult transaction where one person requests directions from the other and the second person provides such direction.
• Crossed Transactions: These take place when the expected response is not given or does not come about. An example for this would be for instance in an Adult-to-Adult situation where the one person requests directions and the other responds as a Critical Parent. 
• Ulterior Transactions: Messages within communications can either be overt or covert. Whereas the communication may outwardly involve an adult-to-adult transaction, a subtle child or parent message is often simultaneously and imperceptibly sent and received. For example, a seemingly supportive comment on the difficulty of becoming a doctor could, at another level, covertly challenge an individual to respond in rebellion. As any parent must know well, these transactions are colored not just by the spoken words but by the tone of voice, body gestures, and facial expressions.

Transactional analysis

3. Life Positions:

According to Transactional Analysis, people come to build core beliefs about themselves and others based on their early formative experiences. These beliefs, referred to as life positions, affect their functioning and subsequent relationships. The four primary life positions are as follows:

• I’m OK, You’re OK: Definitely positive, callback in an absolutely balanced way.

• I’m OK, You’re Not OK: Blaming and perhaps criticizing.

• I’m Not OK, You’re OK: An inferiority complex and helplessness.

• I’m Not OK, You’re Not OK: Desperate and hopeless. 

4. Game:

Games are those repeated, predictable patterns of interaction-think of one or both people initiating a “manipulative” sequence-letting the other person feel sad or scared in order to gain a specific payoff. The “ulterior motive” is hidden beneath the surface of the apparently innocuous conversation. 

In the above example, Person A may be playing NIGYYSOB game. The payoff for Person A is superiority-or worse, putting Person B down. Person B may play the “Kick Me” game, playing the victim, opening himself or herself for the negative feedback game and giving himself or herself miserable, negative FEED.

Features of games include:

• Repetitive: They keep happening with different people or situations.
• Predictable: It’s always a pattern with a similar kind of outcome.
• Unconscious: Usually, people are not fully aware of whether they are orchestrating a game.
• Negative Payoff: The net result tends to be such that somebody has an emotion like disgust, sorrow, and guilt.
• Con: There is some kind of manipulation or hidden agenda to it.

It is the games that do not allow for true intimacy and problem-solving. TA therapy tries to make the person aware of the games they are playing and to try to get them to stop. 

5. Strokes

Strokes are the basic units of social interaction. They are any recognition (verbal or nonverbal) acts. You can think of them as emotional currency.

• Positive Strokes: These include expressions of approval, affection, praise, or acceptance. A smile, an epithet, a slap on the back, or an inspirational remark are all positive strokes. They make us feel good and appreciated.

• Negative Strokes: These are expressions of disapproval, criticism, rejection, or neglect. Sad gestures, wry remarks or not acknowledging someone are bad strokes. They leave us feeling bad and unappreciated.
• Conditional Strokes: These are strokes given based on our actions. For example, “I love you when you clean your room” is a conditional stroke.
• Unconditional Strokes: These are strokes awarded for what we are, not for what we get up to. An example would be “I love you” without any conditions attached.

We all need strokes to survive and thrive. Infants that are not hugged and stroked can miss out on proper development. As adults, we continue to seek recognition and validation. The kind of stroke we are exposed to in childhood influences behaviours and how we behave in social context.

6. Scripts:

A life script is a plan that a person unconsciously plans out for themselves. In other words, the script is the unconscious part of an individual who is choosing the “story” of his or her life, written for himself or herself.People have different types of scripts, some of which are positive and others negative. 

For example, a child who was showered with love, care, and support might develop a positive script and as a result may feel loved and successful. On the other hand, a child who was abused either regularly or just once, was neglected, or was criticized may develop a script that is negative, leading them to the belief that they are unlovable or that they are failures.

Scripts shape our lives affecting such things as:

• Relationships: We will probably find a partner who fits our script.
• Behavior: We will probably behave like this because it is in line with our script.
• Career: We will probably act in accordance with our script and choose a career to which our script is related.

Scripts are only a part of the human being that grows up and can be changed during the course of one’s life.  TA therapy can help individuals discover their belief systems and intentions and decide whether they want to continue living according to them or change them.  They can take an active part in being the authors of their new scripts and opting for the more positive side.

Applications of Transactional Analysis 

• Therapy: improve communication, manage conflicts, develop personal growth, etc.
• Education: To understand student behavior and improve teacher-student interactions.
• Business: Improving communication, teamwork, and leadership effectiveness.

Limitations of Transactional Analysis 

• Oversimplification: TA is oversimplifying complex human behavior.
• Subjectivity: Interpretation of ego states may vary from person to person.
• Limited Empirical Support: Much of TA remains empirically poorly supported.

Conclusion:

Transactional Analysis offers a valuable framework for grasping human behavior and communication. By recognizing ego states, analyzing transactions, and identifying core life positions, individuals can gain insights into their own actions as well as those of others. This awareness can lead to improved communication, stronger relationships, and personal development.

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Reference:

• Petruzzi, Jimmy. (2023). Transactional Analysis resource E-manual.  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/369479798_Transactional_Analysis_resource_E-manual