- creating environments for people to learn and grow
Transactional analysis (TA) is a theory of human personality and communication developed by Eric Berne in the 1960’s. Over the past four decades Berne's theory has evolved to include applications to psychotherapy, counselling, education, and organisational development.
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Key ideas in Transactional Analysis
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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.
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Ego States Berne identified that human personality is made up of three "ego states"; each of which is an entire system of thought, feeling, and behaviour 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.
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Transactions refer to the communication exchanges between people. By analysing the ego states people are transacting from and to it is possible to improve the quality and effectiveness of communication.
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Strokes Berne observed that people need strokes, 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.
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Games Certain socially dysfunctional behavioural patterns are known as "games." These repetitive, devious transactions are intended to obtain strokes but they reinforce negative feelings and self-concepts, and mask the direct expression of thoughts and emotions.
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Script 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 organisational or societal scripting with cooperative non-violent behaviour is the aim of other applications of transactional analysis.
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"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 basically "OK" and thus capable of change, growth, and healthy interactions.
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