Transactional Analysis

Transactional Analysis A model for explaining why and how: People think like they do People act like they do People interact/communicate with others Based on published ‘psychological’ work such as: Games People Play (Dr. Eric Berne) I’m OK - - You’re OK (Dr. Tom Harris) Born to Win (Dr. Dorothy Jongeward)

Our Brain (according to Berne) Determines what we think and how we act Acts like a tape recorder while recording Events Associated feelings Has 3 distinct parts or ego states Parent Adult Child

Parent Ego State Thoughts, feelings, attitudes, behavioral patterns based on messages or lessons learned from parents and other ‘parental’ or authoritarian sources Shoulds and should nots; oughts and ought nots; always and never Prejudicial views (not based on logic or facts) on things such as: religion dress salespeople traditions work products money raising children companies Nurturing views (sympathetic, caring views) Critical views (fault finding, judgmental, condescending views)

Adult Ego State Thoughts, feelings, attitudes, behavioral patterns based on objective analysis of information (data, facts) Make decisions based on logic, computations, probabilities, etc. (not emotion)

Child Ego State Thoughts, feelings, attitudes, behavioral patterns based on child-like emotions, impulses, feelings we have experienced Child-like examples Impulsive Self-centered Angry Fearful Curious Eager to please Happy Pleasure seeking Rebellious

Ego Portraits People have favorite, preferred ego state, depicted by larger circle in a diagram Parent Adult Child P P P A A A C C C

Human Interaction Analysis A transaction = any interaction or communication between 2 people People send and receive messages out of and into their different ego states How people say something (what others hear?) just as important as what is said Types of communication, interactions Complementary Crossed Ulterior

Complementary ‘Transactions’ Interactions, responses, actions regarded as appropriate and expected from another person. Parallel communication arrows, communication continues. Example 1: #1 What time do you have? #2 I’ve got 11:15. P P A A C C

Complementary ‘Transactions’ cont’d Example 2: #1 You’re late again! P P #2 I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. A A C C

Crossed ‘Transactions’ Interactions, responses, actions NOT regarded as appropriate or expected from another person. Crossed communication arrows, communication breakdown. Example 1 #1 What time do you have? #2 There’s a clock on the wall, why don’t you figure it out yourself? P P A A C C

Crossed ‘Transactions’ cont’d Example 2 #1 You’re late again! #2 Yeah, I know, I had a flat tire. P P A A C C

Ulterior ‘Transactions’ Interactions, responses, actions which are different from those explicitly stated Example #1 How about coming up to my room and listening to some music? P P A A C C