What is Transactional Analysis?
Transactional analysis is a theory of human behaviour and communication developed by Eric Berne, MD (d.1970). Over the past four decades Eric Berne's theory has evolved to include applications to counselling, education, organisational development and psychotherapy,
Key Ideas in Transactional Analysis
Contracts
Transactional analysis practice is based upon mutual contracting for change. Transactional analysts view people as capable of deciding what they want for their lives. Accordingly transactional analysis does its work on a contractual basis between the client and the practitioner. For developmental applications of TA, the contract will often involve other parties, such as the organisation or institution.
I'm OK - You're OK
"I'm OK - You're OK" is probably the best-known principle of transactional analysis: to establish and reinforce the position that recognizes the value and worth of every person. Transactional analysts regard people as basically "OK" and thus capable of change, growth, and healthy interactions.
Ego States
Eric Berne made complex interpersonal transactions understandable when he recognized that the human personality is made up of three systems, or groupings, of ego states; each of which is an entire system of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours from which we interact with each other. The Parent, Adult and Child ego states and the interactions between them form the foundation of transactional analysis theory. These concepts have spread into many areas of therapy, education, coaching and consulting as practiced today.
Transactions
Transactions refer to the communication exchanges, or interactions, between people. Transactional analysis 'proper' therefore refers to the process of identifying whuich ego states are engaging in transactions, which allows us to understand why miscommunication may be occurring, and to make changes in order to improve the quality and effectiveness of communication.
Strokes
Berne observed that people need strokes, the units of interpersonal recognition, to survive and thrive. Understanding how people give and receive positive and negative strokes and changing unhealthy patterns of stroking are powerful aspects of work in transactional analysis.
Games People Play
Berne defined certain socially dysfunctional behavioural patterns as "games." These repetitive transactional patterns are intended to obtain positive strokes and are seen as failed attempts at closeness. Instead they reinforce negative feelings and self-concepts, and mask the direct expression of thoughts and emotions.
Life Script
Eric Berne proposed that dysfunctional behaviour is the result of self-limiting decisions made in childhood in the interest of survival. Such decisions culminate in what Berne called the "life script," the pre-conscious life plan that governs the way life is lived. Supporting positive changes in the life script and replacing unhelpful or harmful organisational, educational or societal scripting with cooperative non-violent behaviour is one of the aims of developmental transactional analysis.
Transactional analysis is a theory of human behaviour and communication developed by Eric Berne, MD (d.1970). Over the past four decades Eric Berne's theory has evolved to include applications to counselling, education, organisational development and psychotherapy,
Key Ideas in Transactional Analysis
Contracts
Transactional analysis practice is based upon mutual contracting for change. Transactional analysts view people as capable of deciding what they want for their lives. Accordingly transactional analysis does its work on a contractual basis between the client and the practitioner. For developmental applications of TA, the contract will often involve other parties, such as the organisation or institution.
I'm OK - You're OK
"I'm OK - You're OK" is probably the best-known principle of transactional analysis: to establish and reinforce the position that recognizes the value and worth of every person. Transactional analysts regard people as basically "OK" and thus capable of change, growth, and healthy interactions.
Ego States
Eric Berne made complex interpersonal transactions understandable when he recognized that the human personality is made up of three systems, or groupings, of ego states; each of which is an entire system of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours from which we interact with each other. The Parent, Adult and Child ego states and the interactions between them form the foundation of transactional analysis theory. These concepts have spread into many areas of therapy, education, coaching and consulting as practiced today.
Transactions
Transactions refer to the communication exchanges, or interactions, between people. Transactional analysis 'proper' therefore refers to the process of identifying whuich ego states are engaging in transactions, which allows us to understand why miscommunication may be occurring, and to make changes in order to improve the quality and effectiveness of communication.
Strokes
Berne observed that people need strokes, the units of interpersonal recognition, to survive and thrive. Understanding how people give and receive positive and negative strokes and changing unhealthy patterns of stroking are powerful aspects of work in transactional analysis.
Games People Play
Berne defined certain socially dysfunctional behavioural patterns as "games." These repetitive transactional patterns are intended to obtain positive strokes and are seen as failed attempts at closeness. Instead they reinforce negative feelings and self-concepts, and mask the direct expression of thoughts and emotions.
Life Script
Eric Berne proposed that dysfunctional behaviour is the result of self-limiting decisions made in childhood in the interest of survival. Such decisions culminate in what Berne called the "life script," the pre-conscious life plan that governs the way life is lived. Supporting positive changes in the life script and replacing unhelpful or harmful organisational, educational or societal scripting with cooperative non-violent behaviour is one of the aims of developmental transactional analysis.
