Transactional analysis is a social psychology developed by Eric Berne, MD
(d.1970). Over the past four decades Eric Berne's theory has evolved to
include applications to psychotherapy, counselling, education, and
organizational development.
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Eric Berne, borne in 1910, in
Montreal, Canada, was a pioneer and a radical in the field of
psychiatry. Berne died on the 15th July 1970 aged only 60.
He left behind him a profound and systematic theory of personality and a
range of tools which have been used throughout the world to promote
health and growth. (For an easy to read and effective summary of the
life and work of Berne see Ian Stewart's book... Eric Berne, form the Key
figures in Counselling series; sage publications 1992).
Berne started training in
psychoanalysis with Paul Federn in 1947, who had worked with Freud in
Vienna, later Berne became the analysand
of Erik Erikson. Both of these psychoanalysts influenced Berne's
theoretical development;
Federn, in particular influenced the development of his ideas on
ego states.
Berne first mentioned TA. in writing in 1957, later that
year he started a seminar in San Francisco, and thus started the growth
of Transactional Analysis. The San Francisco Bay Area is still the headquarters of
the International Transactional Association.
Berne's best known work is Games People Play (1964),
an international best seller which has altered the way people think
about and
how they understand relationships. The idea of the inner Child, of
Games, and of Strokes and Life Scripts are now widely used terms far
outside of the TA community, and have entered everyday language. A final
book was published after his death... "What Do You Say After You
Say
Hello" This book summarises much of his theory and his final developments of
his TA theory.
Books by Berne:
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The Mind in Action
(1947)
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A Layman's Guide to Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis (1957);
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Transactional Analysis in Psychotherapy (1961);
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Structure and Dynamics of Organizations and Groups (1963);
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Games People Play (1964);
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Principles Group Treatment (1966);
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Sex in Human Loving (1970); and
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What Do You Say After You Say Hello (1971).
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Ego States
Eric Berne made complex interpersonal transactions understandable when
he recognized that the human personality is made up of three "ego
states"; each of which is an entire system of thought, feeling, and
behavior from which we interact with each other. The Parent, Adult and
Child ego states and the interaction between them form the foundation of
transactional analysis theory. These concepts have spread into many
areas of therapy, education, and consulting as practiced today.
Transactions
Transactions refer to the communication exchanges between people.
Transactional analysts are trained to recognize which ego states people
are transacting from and to follow the transactional sequences so they
can intervene and 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, devious transactions are intended to obtain
strokes but instead they reinforce negative feelings and self-concepts,
and mask the direct expression of thoughts and emotions. Berne tagged
these games with such instantly recognizable names as "Why Don't You,
Yes But," "Now I've Got You, You SOB," and "I'm Only Trying to Help
You." Berne's book Games People Play achieved wide popular success in
the early 60's.
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 out. Changing
the life script is the aim of transactional analysis psychotherapy.
Replacing violent organizational or societal scripting with cooperative
non-violent behaviour is the aim of other applications of transactional
analysis.
I'm OK - You're OK
"I'm OK - You're OK" is probably the best-known expression of the
purpose of transactional analysis: to establish and reinforce the
position that recognizes the value and worth of every person.
Transactional analysts regard people as born basically "OK" and thus capable
of change, growth, and healthy interactions.
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 therapist,
educator, or consultant.
Fields of Practice in
Transactional Analysis
Counselling
Counsellors who utilize transactional analysis work directly on
"here and now" problem solving with their clients, focusing on
creating productive problem solving behaviours. By using
transactional analysis, counsellor's educate and establish an
equal working relationship with their clients. This working
relationship provides clients with tools they can utilize in
their day-to-day functions.
Psychotherapy
Transactional analysis , according to Eric Berne, is a powerful
tool for human well being. In psychotherapy, transactional
analysis utilizes the "Adult" in both the client and the
clinician to sort out pathological behaviours and thoughts that
result in incapacitation. Trained and skilled
transactional analysts work "with" clients to eliminate dysfunctional
behaviours and establish and reinforce healthy functioning.
Competent, transactional analysts use the many
tools of psychotherapy ranging from psychoanalysis to behaviour
modification in effective and potent ways using transactional
analysis as an operational system.
Organisational
Transactional Analysis is a powerful tool in the hands of
organizational development specialists. Through presenting the
basic concepts of transactional analysis and using it as the
basic theory to under gird the objectives of their clients,
organizational development specialists build a common strategy
with which to address the particular needs of organizations and
to build a functional relationship, as well as eliminate
dysfunctional organizational behaviours.
Education
Educators who work with transactional analysis teach the simple
concepts of basic transactional analysis to enable students,
whether the students are elementary or post-graduate students.
By using the basic theory of transactional analysis, educators
work to create a common understanding of personality and
functioning that reaches across all fields of learning and
unifies the educational experience.
Click to download pdf files for each of the core competencies,
which provide a detailed description of each of the 4 fields.
These
core competencies form section 5 of the EATA training manual
.
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