Transactional analysisTransactional analysis TATA to its adherents, is a to its adherents, is a psychoanalyticpsychoanalytic (ie, (ie,

consciously post-consciously post-FreudianFreudian) theory of ) theory of psychologypsychology and and psychotherapypsychotherapy developed developed by Canadian-born US by Canadian-born US psychiatristpsychiatrist Eric BerneEric Berne during the late 1950sduring the late 1950s

TA is one of the most accessible theories of TA is one of the most accessible theories of modern psychology modern psychology

TA has wide applications in clinical, TA has wide applications in clinical, therapeutic, organizational and personal therapeutic, organizational and personal development, encompassing development, encompassing communications, management, personality, communications, management, personality, relationships and behaviour. relationships and behaviour.

TA is a technique for examining the nature TA is a technique for examining the nature of the interpersonal communication between of the interpersonal communication between two individuals and to analysis whether or two individuals and to analysis whether or not effective communication take place.not effective communication take place.

1.  EGO STATES1.  EGO STATES 2.  LIFE POSITIONS2.  LIFE POSITIONS 3.  TRANSACTIONS3.  TRANSACTIONS 4.  STROKES4.  STROKES 5.  GAMES5.  GAMES

1.  EGO STATES1.  EGO STATES

PARENT

Critical Parent

makes rules and sets limitsdisciplines, judges and criticises

Nurturing Parent

advises and guidesprotects and nurtures

ADULT  

concerned with data and factsconsiders options and estimates

probabilitiesmakes unemotional decisionsplans and makes things happen

CHILD

Free(Natural)

Childfun-loving and energeticcreative and spontaneous

Adapted Child

compliant and politerebellious and manipulative

  The Ego-State (or Parent-Adult-The Ego-State (or Parent-Adult-Child, PAC) modelChild, PAC) model

Berne defined three basic personalities or Berne defined three basic personalities or Ego States, each with characteristic Ego States, each with characteristic attitudes, feelings, behaviours and attitudes, feelings, behaviours and language.  language. 

Two of the states subdivide into two further Two of the states subdivide into two further facets facets

The concept of ego states to help explain The concept of ego states to help explain how we are made up, and how we relate to how we are made up, and how we relate to others others

As three stacked circles and they are one of As three stacked circles and they are one of the building blocks of Transactional Analysis the building blocks of Transactional Analysis

They categories the ways we think, feel and They categories the ways we think, feel and behave and are called Parent, Adult, and behave and are called Parent, Adult, and Child Child

A capital letter to denote the difference A capital letter to denote the difference between actual parents, adults and children between actual parents, adults and children

Parent ego stateParent ego state This is a set of feelings, thinking and This is a set of feelings, thinking and

behaviour that we have copied from our behaviour that we have copied from our parents and significant others. parents and significant others.

As we grow up we take in ideas, beliefs, As we grow up we take in ideas, beliefs, feelings and behaviours from our parents feelings and behaviours from our parents and caretakers. and caretakers.

If we live in an extended family then there If we live in an extended family then there are more people to learn and take in from.are more people to learn and take in from.

Parent ego is authoritarian.Parent ego is authoritarian.

Adult ego stateAdult ego state

Is about direct responses to the here and Is about direct responses to the here and now. It is a rational.now. It is a rational.

We deal with things that are going on today We deal with things that are going on today in ways that are not unhealthily influenced in ways that are not unhealthily influenced by our past. by our past.

State is about being spontaneous and State is about being spontaneous and aware with the capacity for intimacy aware with the capacity for intimacy

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

Taking the best from the past and using it Taking the best from the past and using it appropriately in the present is an integration appropriately in the present is an integration of the positive aspects of both our Parent of the positive aspects of both our Parent and Child ego states. and Child ego states.

So this can be called the Integrating Adult So this can be called the Integrating Adult Adult ego state circle is placed in the middle Adult ego state circle is placed in the middle

to show how it needs to orchestrate to show how it needs to orchestrate between the Parent and the Child ego between the Parent and the Child ego states. states.

Child ego state Child ego state The Child ego state is a set of behaviours, The Child ego state is a set of behaviours,

thoughts and feelings which are replayed from our thoughts and feelings which are replayed from our own childhood.own childhood.

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

Child ego is impulsive.Child ego is impulsive. Though all of us transact from all three ego states Though all of us transact from all three ego states

from time to time, each one of us generally tends from time to time, each one of us generally tends to have dominant ego from which we transact to have dominant ego from which we transact most of the time.most of the time.

Parent contaminationChild contamination Double contamination (Parent and Child)

2.  LIFE POSITIONS2.  LIFE POSITIONS The other building block of TA is the view The other building block of TA is the view

we have of ourselves in relation to other we have of ourselves in relation to other people around us.  people around us. 

There are four life positions, shown as a grid There are four life positions, shown as a grid that became known as the "OK Corral".  that became known as the "OK Corral". 

The quotation in each box typifies the The quotation in each box typifies the attitude of each Life Position:attitude of each Life Position:

I'M NOT OKYOU'RE OK

 "I wish I could do that as

well as you do"

I'M OKYOU'RE OK

 "Hey, we're making good

progress now"

I'M NOT OKYOU'RE NOT OK

 "Oh this is terrible - we'll

never make it"

I'M OKYOU'RE NOT OK

 "You're not doing that

right - let me show you"

3.  TRANSACTIONS3.  TRANSACTIONS The central concept of TA is that The central concept of TA is that

Transactions between people can be Transactions between people can be characterised by the Ego State of the two characterised by the Ego State of the two participants.  participants. 

What's more, the Ego State adopted by the What's more, the Ego State adopted by the person who starts the transaction will affect person who starts the transaction will affect the way the other person responds.the way the other person responds.

Every piece of conversation is treated as a Every piece of conversation is treated as a transaction. transaction.

4.  STROKES4.  STROKES We all need and seek care, attention, love and We all need and seek care, attention, love and

recognition from others, and in TA, a stroke is recognition from others, and in TA, a stroke is defined as a unit of recognition. defined as a unit of recognition. 

With children, strokes are obviously sought and With children, strokes are obviously sought and given: given:

They show off their new toy, or misbehave to get They show off their new toy, or misbehave to get attention, and know the adults will respond right on attention, and know the adults will respond right on cue.  cue. 

But grown-ups do the same: working hard, But grown-ups do the same: working hard, deliberately making mistakes, arriving late, or deliberately making mistakes, arriving late, or simply arriving home and sighing "what a day!"simply arriving home and sighing "what a day!"

Strokes can be positive or negative, and it's generally Strokes can be positive or negative, and it's generally better to give a negative stroke than none at all (because better to give a negative stroke than none at all (because that may be taken as negative anyway). that may be taken as negative anyway). 

A) "I like you" A) "I like you" B) "I don't like you" B) "I don't like you"

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

"I like you" - unconditional "I like you" - unconditional "I like you when you smile" - conditional "I like you when you smile" - conditional

As negative strokes these might be: As negative strokes these might be: "I don't like you" - Negative unconditional "I don't like you" - Negative unconditional "I don't like you when you're sarcastic" - negative conditional "I don't like you when you're sarcastic" - negative conditional

The stroke economy The stroke economy Don't give positive Don't give positive

strokes freely; strokes freely; If you give positive If you give positive

strokes, make them strokes, make them conditional; conditional;

Don't ask for positive Don't ask for positive strokes - certainly not strokes - certainly not directly; directly;

Most positive strokes are Most positive strokes are insincere ('plastic'); insincere ('plastic');

Never give a physical Never give a physical stroke - by touching stroke - by touching someone; someone;

Don't miss a chance to Don't miss a chance to give a negative stroke. give a negative stroke.

Give strokes when we Give strokes when we have them to give have them to give

Ask for strokes when Ask for strokes when we want them we want them

Accept strokes if we Accept strokes if we want them want them

Reject manipulative Reject manipulative strokes strokes

Give ourselves positive Give ourselves positive strokes strokes

The result is a cold, unfeeling environment The result is a cold, unfeeling environment where normal human emotions are where normal human emotions are generally suppressed.  generally suppressed. 

Even in 'warm' organisations where it's OK Even in 'warm' organisations where it's OK to express feelings, strokes are still subject to express feelings, strokes are still subject to certain norms - such as not giving them to to certain norms - such as not giving them to people above you in the hierarchy.people above you in the hierarchy.

In the absence of a free exchange of In the absence of a free exchange of strokes, people manipulate others in order strokes, people manipulate others in order to get the strokes they crave, and start to get the strokes they crave, and start playing games.playing games.

5.  GAMES5.  GAMES The complexity of the TA model leaves it The complexity of the TA model leaves it

open to manipulation, or "Games".  open to manipulation, or "Games".  You adopt a Child state because you want You adopt a Child state because you want

someone's help, or a Parent state to make someone's help, or a Parent state to make them do something for you.  them do something for you. 

But often the games end up damaging the But often the games end up damaging the relationship, and the type of game someone relationship, and the type of game someone plays is influenced by his or her life state. plays is influenced by his or her life state.

Examples of games players are:Examples of games players are:

The Persecutor: "if it weren't for you",  "see The Persecutor: "if it weren't for you",  "see what you made me do",  "yes, but".what you made me do",  "yes, but".

The Rescuer: "I'm only trying to help", "what The Rescuer: "I'm only trying to help", "what would you do without me?"would you do without me?"

The Victim: "this always happens to me", The Victim: "this always happens to me", "poor old me", "go on, kick me"."poor old me", "go on, kick me".

When similar situations keep happening When similar situations keep happening over and over again then the term TA uses over and over again then the term TA uses for this is a game. for this is a game.

A game is a familiar pattern of behaviour A game is a familiar pattern of behaviour with a predictable outcome. with a predictable outcome.

Games are played outside Adult awareness Games are played outside Adult awareness and they are our best attempt to get our and they are our best attempt to get our needs met - although of course we don't. needs met - although of course we don't.

Games are learned patterns of behaviour, Games are learned patterns of behaviour, and most people play a small number of and most people play a small number of favourite games with a range of different favourite games with a range of different people and in varying intensities people and in varying intensities

Based on the degree of acceptability and potential Based on the degree of acceptability and potential harmharm game types game types

First Degree GamesFirst Degree Games are socially acceptable in are socially acceptable in the players' social circle. the players' social circle. lead to mild upsets lead to mild upsets not major traumas. not major traumas.

Second Degree GamesSecond Degree Games are games are games occur occur when the stakes may be higher. This usually when the stakes may be higher. This usually occurs in more intimate circles, and ends up occurs in more intimate circles, and ends up with an even greater negative payoff with an even greater negative payoff

Third Degree GamesThird Degree Games are games that could are games that could lead to drastic harm to one or more of the lead to drastic harm to one or more of the parties concerned. parties concerned. Involve tissue damage and Involve tissue damage and may end up in the jail, hospital or morgue. may end up in the jail, hospital or morgue.

Three other quantitative variables are often Three other quantitative variables are often useful to consider for games:useful to consider for games:

Flexibility: The ability of the players to Flexibility: The ability of the players to change the currency of the game (that is, change the currency of the game (that is, the tools they use to play it). In a flexible the tools they use to play it). In a flexible game, players may shift from words, to game, players may shift from words, to money, to parts of the body. money, to parts of the body.

Tenacity: The persistence with which people Tenacity: The persistence with which people play and stick to their games and their play and stick to their games and their resistance to breaking it. resistance to breaking it.

Intensity: Easy games are games played in a Intensity: Easy games are games played in a relaxed way. Hard games are games played relaxed way. Hard games are games played in a tense and aggressive way. in a tense and aggressive way.