Transactional Analysis (TA) was invented by Eric Berne, M.D. (1962-1970).
Perhaps you are familiar with his first popular book, Games People Play,
published in 1964. Long before then, back in 1947, as a
psychoanalytically oriented psychiatrist, he wrote The Mind in Action,
which was revised later in 1957, under the title of A Layman's Guide to
Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis. Dr. Berne was dedicated to finding a
way to talk about human behavior in a non-technical language that would reach
the man in the street. Disenchanted with mainstream psychiatry, he
changed his approach to a form of social psychiatry that communicated in easily
understood, simple language. Discovering that people behaved from three
different parts of their personality, he replaced old psychoanalytic concepts
of id, ego, and superego with actually experienced "ego
states." People could be observed functioning from a parental part
(the Parent ego state), an adult part (the Adult ego state), and a child part
(the Child ego state) of their personality. In observing communication
between people he noted an interaction of these different parts which he
identified as "transactions." Hence, the name, Transactional
Analysis.
You can read an
excellent, concise definition of TA in The
Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (3rd
edition, 2001, volume 4, p. 1704). The ITAA (International TA Association) can
assist you in your search of more information: http://www.itaa-net.org It publishes
the Transactional Analysis Journal for up-to-date professional articles
about TA theory and practice. You can contact the ITAA at:
Because
of its simplicity and popularity, TA became part of the American pop culture
after the 1970s. The ITAA, however, is
committed to developing a strong scientific basis for TA theory and
practice. The late Robert Goulding, M.D.
(1918-1992) and his wife, Mary McClure Goulding, originated a powerful and
effective form of TA therapy known as “Redecision” therapy in the 60’s. They revolutionized the application of TA by
integrating with gestalt therapy, validating it by demonstrating actual
behavioral change in clients. “Gestalt,” a German word meaning “whole,” refers
to our being in full contact with our experience as it unfolds in the present
and as we are completing our unfinished childhood issues.
Brief
Glossary of a few basic TA concepts
Ego
states. These are three major parts
of your personality, consisting of a parental part that can be supportive or
critical; an adult part that is rational; and a child part that is free and
natural or adapted to parental influences. These parts can blend in a healthy
way or contaminate each other to create a distorted view of the world.
Transactions. In communication with others, the ego states of
each person interact to create “transactions.”
Such transactions can be overt or covert, and can be classified as
straightforward, crossed-up, or ulterior. Awareness of these transactions helps
to resolve conflicts.
Strokes. We exchange
“strokes” in our transactions as we get our needs and wants met. The term originates from the gentle physical
caressing needed by infants. They can be
positive or negative, conditional or unconditional. To get our strokes we structure our time in
rituals, pastimes, play and work activities, games, and intimacy.
Behavior
rackets. These refer to our behavior
when we are feeling defensive and cover up our real feelings. A common racket is angry behavior that we use
to defend against feelings like hurt, sadness, shame, and disappointment. We can justify our anger with the belief that
we deserve to feel that way.
Games. These are ulterior way of getting strokes without
having to face our real feelings and needs with others. Our overt level of communication comes with a
covert exchange that often supports our bad feeling rackets. In these games, like in a soap opera, we can
take on the shifting roles of victim, persecutor, or rescuer, to form a “drama
triangle.”
Intimacy. This is the most honest way of getting our needs
met. By being open, sharing our
vulnerability with others, and letting them see us as we really are, we can
experience true closeness with them.
Life
scripts. A large part of our life
story unfolds like the script of a drama or play. You are “in script” when your life is mostly
under the control of family influences and childhood decisions. Your script, whether positive or negative,
depends on the kinds of permissions and prohibitions you received as a child,
and the resulting early decisions you made.
Autonomy. This is the basic goal of TA, defined as your
capacity to be aware, spontaneous, and intimate with others. The more script-free you are, the more
autonomous you will be.
Redecision. This refers to your power to re-decide any early
negative decisions you made as a child. The power to change is in you and this
power is often released after a redecision is made.
These
are only a few of the basic concepts used by transactional analysts. My basic TA primer, Introduce yourself to transactional analysis (millennial edition,
2001) is available and can be ordered from this website’s TA Bookstore, or from
the Sacramento Institute for Redecision
Therapy at 1606 Oakview Dr., Roseville, CA, USA, 95661.