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Glossary A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 3Transactional Analysis in brief : key concepts. Transactional Analysis is at the same time:
Transactional Analysis applies to different levels:
Transactional Analysis can be summarized with six key ideas:
A Adult Ego-State The Adult is the domain of the "Reflexive" or the "Thought". Our I Adult is our capacity to determine our actions on the sole basis of the received information. The Adult forms in us in the neighborhood of 10 months. It is what allows to keep the control of the ego-state "Parent" or of the ego-state "Child". This ego-state is often compared with a "computer" or a "regulator". It concentrates on the reality, handling as well the external information ("it is three o'clock in the afternoon", "I need more data") as the internal information resulting from the ego-states (the Child, e.g.: "I suffer, it is not fair" or the Parent, e.g.: "I am responsible"). Activities A way of structuring time: Activities in this context mean that the individuals work together for a common goal. This may be work, sports or something similar. In contrast to Pastimes, there is a meaningful purpose guiding the interactions, while Pastimes are just about exchanging strokes. Strokes can then be given in the context of cooperation. Thus strokes are generally not personal, but related to the activity. Adapted Child The Adapted Child cooperates, sulks, manipulates. He can be helpful or submissive or rebellious. The Adapted Child functions in a positive and a negative manner that is expressed inwardly toward self (internal) and outwardly toward others (external). The Positive Adapted Child uses adapted behavior to avoid pain and get what is desired without being over-compliant. It operates within boundaries. The Negative Adapted Child adapts harmfully by complying by discounting self to please others. On the opposite it could be rebellious. This part functions in a manner that is helpless, highly influenced by drivers (prescriptions for living). The individual is OK if he or she does these: Be Strong, Be perfect, Try Hard, Hurry Up, Please others. B Be Perfect This driver means that everything has to be right, clean, tidy. In this quest of perfection, it will never be good enough, and remains difficult to delegate. Be Strong This driver means that feelings must not be shown, that one has to take everything on one's shoulders rather than looking for help. C Child Ego-State Child ( or "archaeopsyche") : The Child ego state includes the thoughts feelings and behaviors that we developed in the past. In the most part this is developed in our childhood to enable us to thrive (cope/survive) in the world we live in. The Child ego state is split into two categories:
The Normative Parent provides norms, rules, values. The Normative Parent functions in a positive and a negative manner that is expressed inwardly toward self (internal) and outwardly toward others (external). The Positive Normative Parent (or "Counselor Parent") is strong, powerful, protective, principled. It provides right boundaries. The Negative Normative Parent (or "Persecutor Parent") is condescending, critical, judgmental, moralistic, authoritative. It may be overly critical. E The Ego-State (or Parent-Adult-Child, PAC) model At any given time, a person experiences and manifests his/her personality through a mixture of behaviors, thoughts and feelings. The Self is seen as the start and the end point of all communication and therefore the Self is seen as consisting of various parts. Typically, according to TA, there are three ego-states that people consistently use, one at a given time: the Parent ego-State, the Adult ego-State and the Child ego-State. Ego states can be thought of as parts of our personality. Ego state One of the core concepts in TA is that of ego states. Ego states can be thought of as parts of our personality. There are three of these: The Parent ego state, the Adult ego state and the Child ego state representing the P.A.C model (noted with Capital P,A or C not to be misinterpreted with one's parent, child or any adult person). Each ego state is made up of thoughts, feelings and behaviors that belong together. G Game A game is a series of transactions that are complementary (reciprocal), ulterior, and proceeds towards a predictable outcome. Games are often characterized by a switch in roles of players towards the end. Games are usually played by Parent, Adult and Child ego states, and games usually have a fixed number of players; however, an individual's role can shift, and people can play multiple roles. Games are a way of structuring time. H Hurry Up This driver means that everything has to be done/performed in a short period of time, which may lead to be overloaded. It implies that if everything is done in a hurry, things have to be done at the last moment. Hungers They are fundamental to Berne's theories: they are basic needs which motivate us to engage in communication. Stimulus hunger: the need to seek out stimulating situations. It corresponds approximately to Maslov's social needs. Recognition hunger: the need for other kinds of sensations which can only be supplied by other human beings or animals. It corresponds to esteem needs. Structure hunger: the need to create order or be part of social structures. This is why we look for groups and why groups grow into organizations. I Injunction T.A. identifies twelve key injunctions which people commonly build into their scripts. These are injunctions in the sense of being powerful. I can't/mustn't ... messages that embed into a child's belief and life-script:
A way of structuring time : Intimacy as a way of structuring time allows one to exchange the strongest strokes without playing a Game. Intimacy differs from Games as there is no covert purpose, and differs from Activities as there is no other process going on which defines a context of cooperation. Strokes are personal, relating to the other person, and often unconditional. L Life Position The Life Position concept (also called OK Corral) is a cornerstone of TA. It refers to the general feeling about life (specifically, the unconscious feeling, as opposed to a conscious philosophical position) that colors every dyadic (e.g. person-to-person) transaction. It is defined by the fact of being OK or not OK yourself with respect to another person being also OK or not OK. This defines four life positions: I am OK, You are OK (I+U+) or (+,+): in this case, the individual feels positively about himself and also positively about the other person. This is the most "productive" position to solve problems, to go onward... I am not OK, You are OK (I-U+) or (-,+): in this case the individual feels inferior, dependent, not in confidence. This is the favorite position of a Victim (see the Persecutor Rescuer Victim drama triangle) I am OK, You are not OK (I+U-) or (+,-): in this case the individual feels superior, thinks that the other person is not able to handle the situation or grow or learn. This is the favorite position of Persecutors or Rescuers (see the PRV drama triangle) I am not OK, You are not OK (I-U-) or (-,-): in this case, the individual feels it is not worth doing anything. Why bother? Life Script The Life Script is a life plan, directed to a reward. Script is decisional and responsive; that is decided upon in childhood in response to perceptions of the world and as a means of living with and making sense of the world. It is not just thrust upon a person by external forces. Script is reinforced by parents (or other influential figures and experiences). Script is for the most part outside awareness. Script is how we navigate and what we look for, the rest of reality is redefined (distorted) to match our filters. N Nurturing Parent The Nurturing Parent loves, cares for, provides for, protects. The Nurturing Parent functions in a positive and a negative manner that is expressed inwardly toward self (internal) and outwardly toward others (external). The Positive Nurturing Parent (or Giving Parent) is caring, concerned, giving, protecting appropriately. The Negative Nurturing Parent (or Savior Parent) might smother, be overprotecting. O OK Expression to indicate a positive state (also noted +) in transactions with the other one. P P.A.C. Acronym for the Ego-State model, Parent, Adult and Child, the founding model and reference of Transactional Analysis. Parent Ego-State Parent (or "exteropsyche"): The Parent ego state includes the thoughts, feelings and behaviors we have copied from our parents and other significant people in our lives (grand parents, teachers, big brothers, big sisters, uncles, bosses etc).
A way of structuring time : A pastime is a series of transactions that are complementary (reciprocal), semi-ritualistic, and mainly intended as a time-structuring activity. Pastimes have no covert purpose and can usually be carried out only between people on the same wavelength. They are usually shallow and harmless. Pastimes are a type of smalltalk. Please Others This driver means that you must always please others to be valuable, that it is difficult to say no, even when it is not reasonable R Rituals A way of structuring time : A ritual is a series of transactions that are complementary (reciprocal), stereotyped and based on social programming. Rituals usually comprise a series of strokes exchanged between two parties. Rituals are very stylized transactions. For instance, two people may have a daily two stroke ritual, where, the first time they meet each day, each one greets the other with a "Hi". S Spontaneous Child The Spontaneous Child is playful, creative, spontaneous, uncensored. He functions in a positive and a negative manner that is expressed inwardly toward self (internal) and outwardly toward others (external). The Spontaneous Child expresses directly what is on his or her mind, has fun without hurting anyone, expresses natural feelings and needs. Strokes Strokes are the recognition, attention or responsiveness that one person gives another. Strokes can be positive (nicknamed "warm fuzzies") or negative ("cold pricklies"). A key idea is that people hunger for recognition, and that lacking positive strokes, they will seek whatever kind they can, even if it is a negative kind recognition. We test out as children what strategies and behaviors seem to get us strokes, of whatever kind we can get. T Transactions Transactions are the flow of communication, and more specifically the unspoken psychological flow of communication that runs in parallel. Transactions occur simultaneously at both explicit and psychological levels. Example: sweet caring voice with sarcastic intent. To read the real communication requires both surface and non-verbal reading. Time structuring There are six ways of structuring time by giving and receiving strokes:
Try Hard This driver means that there are always new projects, new things to do and that everything is valuable as long as there is an amount of effort to put in. It means that it matters more to try than to succeed. W Withdrawal A way of structuring time : no strokes are being exchanged. People do not communicate. |
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