What is Transactional Analysis?
What is Transactional Analysis?
Transactional Analysis, TA, is a theory of personality, communication and behaviour. Developed in the late 50’s early 60’s by Eric Berne, an American psychiatrist, TA is founded in the analysis of transactions, relational patterns of behaviour and intrapsychic process. TA gives us an understanding of what makes us tick, why we tick that way and how our early childhood experiences dictate in life our ability to form healthy, lasting relationships with self, other and the environment. Often criticised for its simplicity, TA, is no doubt a multifaceted ‘two-person psychology’ that has at its heart the therapeutic relationship between client and counsellor whilst adhering to the principles of developmental theory, attachment theory and relational psychotherapy.
What are the key concepts in TA?
· Ego state theory. The study of, Parent, Adult and Child ego states, often referred to as the PAC model. States of being that have an impact on how we think, feel and behave. These ego states form in childhood and develop throughout life. With analysis we can begin to understand our internal dialogue and separate out the thoughts feelings and behaviours that truly belong to us and our experience from those that we believe to be ours but are in fact swallowed whole from significant people from our past.
· Script theory. The study of an ‘unconscious life plan’ formed in early childhood in response to early relational experiences and environmental events, made by the child before the age of seven and continued throughout life. Life script is a series of decisions made in response to our interpretations of the world by which we decided, who we think we are, how we will live, what to feel about things and how to behave.
· Games theory. The study of ‘repetitive patterns of behaviour.’ We all play games and whilst they are seen as extremely negative, games provide us with high levels of human interaction and recognition. When we enter into a game the situation often feels familiar and ok. What follows is a feeling of confusion, sometimes excitement, till the game plays out. When this happens we feel like the rug has been pulled from underneath us and both players end up feeling bad. This continues to happen until with awareness we learn to adopt different behavioural strategies.
· Stroke theory. The study of the human need for recognition, stimulus and contact in relationship with others derived from positive and negative, verbal and non-verbal messages and affirmations given to us as children. These messages focus on perceived ability and perceived attributes, based on family values for example:
o You are delightful
o You are annoying
o You are a talented artist
o You are not at all sporty
o Betty is pretty
o Jonny is handsome
o A smile
o A frown
· Transactional Analysis Proper. The study of conscious and unconscious, communication. These transactions consist of verbal and non-verbal, social level messages and more complex unconscious psychological level messages. When communication flows it is said to be ‘complimentary’ i.e. the ego state invited is the ego state to respond. However, communication begins to break down when the ego state invited is not the one to respond and the level of psychological message, i.e. the ‘hidden agenda’ takes over, for example:
o What time is?
o Time you got a watch!
This sounds like an Adult ego state to Adult ego state request. However, the response comes for Parent ego state to Child ego state and feels like a telling off.
What are the clinical advantages of TA for both client and clinician?
· Based on the philosophy of ‘I’m Ok, You’re Ok,’ TA invites mutual respect, empathic understanding and open communication between practitioner and client.
· A contractual agreement, designed to include the client at all levels of contact, treatment and therapeutic journey invites a reciprocal approach and responsibility from both participants.
· A shared understanding of theory and dialogue between client and counsellor, that is client led.
· An integrative approach means ‘no one shoe fits all.’ The therapist can tailor therapeutic interventions to fit the unique and individual needs of each client.
With its integrative and humanistic roots, accessibility language and relational approach, TA is relevant in the treatment of a wide range of psychological issues and human behaviour as well in a variety of organisational settings.
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Nicole Addis, Msc, DIP, DTC. Int Psyche. UK
