Is Transactional Analysis Past Its Sell by Date? TA Lightweight Fad or Significant Development Framework? Paul Dixon, University of Manchester

Aim: to suggest to you that it is not, and….. Explore with you possible applications of TA in learning and development Take part in using some TA tools and ideas Equip you to use at least one TA associated technique in your development work Be sufficiently enthused to find out more……

The ‘Building Blocks’ of TA SCRIPT BOUND AUTONOMY DECOMMISION CHILD INTIMACY POSITIVE STROKES PERMISSIONS STRONG ADULT GAMES DRIVERS DISCOUNTS CONTAMINATIONS EXCLUSIONS Behaviour and Being BEHAVIORAL, (FUNCTIONAL) MODEL, TA ‘PROPER’ Ego states STRUCTURAL MODEL, ANALYSIS TRANSACTIONS Stimulus Psychological Needs/Hungers Recognition STROKES Structure TIME STRUCTURING

Three Types of Applications Stroke Profile Egogram Corralogram Diagnostic, Personal Development, Coaching Individual, Personal Understanding relationships, interpersonal skills, conflict Inter-relational Egogram Relationship Analysis Inter-personal Group dynamics, analysis, team development Group or Team Time-Structuring

Strokes – (Social) Units of recognition Strokes are as necessary to human life as are other primary biological needs such as food, water and shelter, needs which if not satisfied will lead to death Observations about strokes Any stroke is better than no stroke – basis of repeated undesirable behaviour patterns A solicited stroke is as valuable as an unsolicited stroke Individuals have their own capacity and preferences for balance of negative and positive strokes - stroke quotient Our strike quotient is the result of early experience and parental training

The Stroke Economy - Steiner Stroking quotient formed in early experience through child decisions/reactions relating to five injunctions/restrictive rules about stroking Don’t ask for strokes when you need them Don’t give strokes if you have them to give Don’t accept strokes if you want them Don’t reject strokes when you don’t want them Don’t give your self strokes

+ - The Stroke Profile – Jim McKenna 10 10 Individual patterns for dealing with strokes e.g. 10 + GIVE TAKE ASK FOR REFUSE TO GIVE GIVE SELF - 10

+ - Example 2 10 10 Leadership Management Style? Approach to others? Motivation and drives? 10 + GIVE TAKE ASK FOR REFUSE TO GIVE GIVE SELF - 10

Me You

Ego States – Functional, Behavioural Model Set of feelings, attitudes and behaviour resembling and copied from a parent or parental figure + and - + - + - Autonomous set of feelings, attitudes and behaviour patterns in the here and now adapted to the current reality + and - + - + - + - Set of feelings, attitudes and behaviours which are relics of individual childhood + and -

The Egogram – a self assessment and visual representation of the relative intensity and frequency with which an individual typically expends psychic energy (cathexis) in each ego state Suggested that total psychic energy available remains constant – therefore investing more in one ego state leaves less to be invested elsewhere Used in therapy (coaching/management development sessions to review current position, set targets for personal growth

CP NP A AC FC Leadership Style? Relations with Colleagues? Change orientation? Motivation and Drives? CP NP A AC FC

CP NP A AC FC Leadership Style? Relations with Colleagues? Change orientation? Motivation and Drives? CP NP A AC FC

FRED (Manager) DORIS (Staff) CP CP How’s the relationship? NP A AC FC

FRED (Manager) DORIS (Staff) CP CP How’s the relationship? NP A AC FC

Relationship Analysis - Theoretical Ideal

Relationship Analysis – Disjuncts

Time Structuring – Structure Hunger Intimacy Games Intensity of strokes increases Psychological risk increases Activities Pastimes Rituals Withdrawal

Time Structuring Think of a group with which you work, project group or some such – draw a pie chart of how much time collectively in different forms of time structuring e.g.

Time Structuring Think of your own behaviour in a particular group – what proportion of your time do you spend in each of the different forms of time structuring?

So TA……… Content of Development Communications training L and M Development Interpersonal skills Assertiveness Self Development etc Types of Interventions Coaching/Mentoring Conflict resolution/mediation Group/team development …not just customer service training!