Transactional Analysis

Presented By

Arun T. Ravindran

Roll No.: 04

MBA (IB)

School of Management Studies

Transactional Analysis

• Transactional Analysis is a social psychology.• TA is a theory of personality.• A method to improve communication.• It has wide application in Organizational and

communication training, education, counseling.

Contents

• Introduction to Transactional Analysis

• Roots of Transactional analysis

• Different Ego States

• Kinds of Transactions

• Strokes

• Applications of TA

• Conclusion

Transactional Analysis

The theory outlines how we have developed and treat ourselves, how we relate and communicate with others, and offers suggestions and interventions which will enable us to change and grow. Transactional Analysis is underpinned by the philosophy that:– people can change– we all have a right to be in the world and be accepted

Roots of Transactional Analysis

Throughout history, and from all standpoints: philosophy, medical science, religion; people have believed that each man and woman has a multiple nature.

In the early 20th century, Sigmund Freud first established that the human psyche is multi-faceted, and that each of us has warring factions in our subconscious.

In 1951 Dr Wilder Penfield began a series of scientific experiments.

TA Theory and Model

• TA is developed by Eric Berne in 1950’s

According to Berne, verbal communication, (particularly face to face) is at the centre of human social relationships and psychoanalysis.

His starting-point was that when two people encounter each other, one of them will speak to the other. This he called the Transaction Stimulus. The reaction from the other person he called the Transaction Response.

TA - Model

Agent Respondent

Transaction Stimulus

Transaction Response

TA Structural Model – Ego States

Parent Ego State• This is a set of feelings, thinking and behavior that we

have copied from our parents and significant others.• This is our ingrained voice of authority, absorbed

conditioning, learning and attitudes from when we were young. We were conditioned by our real parents, teachers, older people, next door neighbours, aunts and uncles

• For example, we may notice that we are saying things just as our father, mother, grandmother may have done, even though, consciously, we don't want to.

Adult Ego State

• The Adult ego state is about being spontaneous and aware with the capacity for intimacy.

• Our 'Adult' is our ability to think and determine action for ourselves, based on received data.

• When in our Adult we are able to see people as they are, rather than what we project onto them.

Child Ego State

• The Child ego state is a set of behaviors, thoughts and feelings which are replayed from our own childhood.

• This is the seeing, hearing, feeling, and emotional body of data within each of us. When anger or despair dominates reason, the Child is in control.

• Perhaps the boss calls us into his or her office, we may immediately get a churning in our stomach and wonder what we have done wrong.

ParentPhysical - angry or impatient body-language and expressions, finger-pointing, patronizing gestures,Verbal - always, never, for once and for all, judgmental words, critical words, patronizing language, posturing language.

ChildPhysical - emotionally sad expressions, despair, temper tantrums, whining voice, rolling eyes, shrugging shoulders, teasing, delight, laughter, speaking behind hand, raising hand to speak, squirming and giggling.Verbal - baby talk, I wish, I dunno, I want, I'm gonna, I don't care, oh no, not again, things never go right for me, worst day of my life, bigger, biggest, best, many superlatives, words to impress.

AdultPhysical - attentive, interested, straight-forward, tilted head, non-threatening and non-threatened.Verbal - why, what, how, who, where and when, how much, in what way, comparative expressions, reasoned statements, true, false, probably, possibly, I think, I realise, I see, I believe, in my opinion.

Clues and signals in ego states

Descriptive Model - TA

Descriptive Model - TAIneffective Modes• Negative Controlling Parent -

communicates a "You're not OK" message, and is punitive.

• Negative Nurturing Parent - communicates a "You're not OK" message. When in this mode the person is engulfing and overprotective.

• Negative Adapted Child - expresses an "I'm not OK" message.

• Negative Free Child - in this mode the person runs wild with no restrictions or boundaries. In this mode they express a "You're not OK" message.

Descriptive Model - TAEffective Modes• Positive Nurturing Parent -

communicates the message "You're OK“.

• Positive Controlling Parent - communicates the message "You're OK".

• Positive Adapted Child - communicates an "I'm OK" message.

• Positive Free Child - communicates an "I'm OK" message.

• Accounting mode - communicates "We're OK" messages. The Adult is able to assess reality in the here and now.

Transactions & Strokes

• Transactions are the flow of communication, and more specifically the unspoken psychological flow of communication that runs in parallel.

• Strokes are the recognition, attention or responsiveness that one person gives another. Strokes can be positive (nicknamed "warm fuzzies") or negative ("cold pricklies").

Kinds of TransactionsThere are basically three kinds of transactions:

1. Reciprocal/Complementary (the simplest)

2. Crossed

3. Duplex/Covert (the most complex)

Reciprocal or Complementary Transactions

A simple, reciprocal transaction occurs when both partners are addressing the ego state the other is in. These are also called complementary transactions.

• Example 1

A: "Have you been able to write the report?“

B: "Yes - I'm about to email it to you." ----(Adult to Adult)

• Example 2

A: "Would you like to skip this meeting and go watch a film with me instead?“

B: "I'd love to - I don't want to work anymore, what should we go and see?" (Child to Child)

• Example 3

A: "You should have your room tidy by now!" (Parent to Child)

B: "Will you stop hassling me? I'll do it eventually!" (Child to Parent)

Crossed TransactionsCommunication failures are typically caused by a 'crossed transaction' where partners address ego states other than that their partner is in. Consider the above examples jumbled up a bit.

• Example 1a:

A: "Have you been able to write that report?" (Adult to Adult)

B: "Will you stop hassling me? I'll do it eventually!" (Child to Parent)

is a crossed transaction likely to produce problems in the workplace. "A" may respond with a Parent to Child transaction.

For instance:

A: "If you don't change your attitude, you'll get fired.“

• Example 2a:A: "Is your room tidy yet?" (Parent to Child)

B: "I'm just going to do it, actually." (Adult to Adult)

is a more positive crossed transaction. However there is the risk that "A" will feel aggrieved that "B" is acting responsibly and not playing their role, and the conversation will develop into:

A: "I can never trust you to do things!" (Parent to Child)

B: "Why don't you believe anything I say?" (Adult to Adult)which can continue indefinitely.

Duplex or Covert transactions

Another class of transaction is the 'duplex' or 'covert' transactions, where the explicit social conversation occurs in parallel with an implicit psychological transaction.

For instance,

A: "I need you to stay late at the office with me." (Adult words)

body language indicates sexual intent (flirtatious Child)

B: "Of course." (Adult response to Adult statement).

winking or grinning (Child accepts the hidden motive).

StrokesIn Transactional Analysis compliments and general ways of giving recognition is called strokes.

• Strokes can be positive or negative:"I like you“

"I don't like you"

• Strokes can be unconditional or conditional. An unconditional stroke is a stroke for being whereas a conditional stroke is a stroke for doing. For instance:

"I like you" - unconditional

"I like you when you smile" - conditional• As negative strokes these might be:

"I don't like you" - negative unconditional

"I don't like you when you're sarcastic" - negative conditional

Applications of TATA can be used to address important issues in:– Initial and continuing teacher education

– Institutional climate and culture

– Developmental and educational needs

– Self esteem building

– Parent education

– Student motivation

– Staff morale and teacher well-being

– Blocks to learning and teaching

– Behavior management

ConclusionTransactional analysis is developing area in psychoanalysis. Projective tests, reaction questionnaires and research have found that TA training can lead to more positive attitudes towards: work; family; psychological self; other people; self-directedness; accomplishment; physical self and interpersonal relationships; and it can also lead to increases in morale, self-concept, work efficiency and quality of customer treatment.

Questions?

Thank you!!!