What is Transactional analysis?

Transactional analysis, commonly known as TA to its adherents, is a model for explaining why and how:
People think like they do

People act like they do

People interact/communicate with others

TA was developed by Canadian-born US

psychiatrist Eric Berne during the late 1950s.

TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS
Everyone has three ego
PARENT

states that are based on childhood experiences and role model. Each ego state is separate and distinct source of behavior.

ADULT

CHILD

 Set of feelings, thinking and behavior that we

Parent Ego State

have copied from our parents or parental figures. There are 2 types 1. Controlling or Critical 2. Nurturing

PARENT

ADULT

CHILD

Adult Ego State

Not related to persons

age. Oriented towards current reality and the objective gathering of information. Organized, adaptable, intelligent and tests reality estimating probabilities.

PARENT

ADULT

CHILD

Child Ego State

All the impulses that
PARENT

come naturally to an infant. How you responded to earlier experiences and the positions you took about others and yourself. Feelings of happiness, anxiety, fear, withdrawal etc.

ADULT

CHILD

Kinds of transactions
of transactions: Reciprocal/Complementary (the simplest) Crossed Duplex/Covert (the most complex)

There are basically three kinds

Complementary Transaction
A simple, reciprocal transaction occurs when both

partners are addressing the ego state the other is in. These are also called complementary transactions.

Example: A: "Would you like to skip this meeting and go

watch a film with me instead?" (Child to Child) B: "I'd love to - I don't want to work anymore, what should we go and see?" (Child to Child)

Crossed Transaction
Communication failures are typically caused by a

'crossed transaction' where partners address ego states other than that their partner is in. Consider the above examples jumbled up a bit. A: "Have you been able to write that report?" (Adult to Adult) B: "Will you stop hassling me? I'll do it eventually!" (Child to Parent) This is a crossed transaction likely to produce problems in the workplace.

Duplex Transaction
It is a state in which single person shows more than

one kind of ego state at the same time. Example : A: "I need you to stay late at the office with me." (Adult words) B: "Of course." (Adult response to Adult statement), winking or grinning (Child accepts the hidden motive).

STROKES Another concept in TA is that of strokes which are

only acts of recognition. A stroke is a unit of recognition. Positive strokes (compliments, praise) satisfy most. Negative strokes (criticism, ridicule) are more satisfying than no strokes at all. Many workers have become recalcitrant because they were ignored at work and got no strokes at all. Many marriages are threatened after a few years, because each spouse takes the other for granted and does not provide strokes.

 A stroke is satisfying and is therefore a

reward. Like any other reward, strokes also, if given indiscreetly, may misdirect. One must not provide a positive stroke at the time of an undesirable behaviour.

In TA theory, "Life Position" refers to the general feeling about life (specifically, the unconscious feeling, as opposed to a conscious philosophical position) that colours every dyadic (i.e. person-toperson) transaction. Initially four such Life Positions were proposed: 1."I'm Not OK, You're OK" (I-U+) 2."I'm Not OK, You're Not OK" (I-U-) 3."I'm OK, You're Not OK" (I+U-) 4."I'm OK, You're OK" (I+U+)

 However, lately, an Australian TA analyst has claimed that in order to

better represent the Life Position behind disorders that were not, allegedly, as widespread and/or recognized at the time when TA was conceptualized as they are now the list requires alteration. Also, two additional Life Positions are proposed:[8] 1."I'm not-OK, You're OK" (I-U+) 2."I'm not-OK, You're not-OK" (I-U-) 3."I'm not-OK, But You're Worse" (I-U--) 4."I'm not-OK, You're Irrelevant" (I-U?) 5."I'm a Bit More OK Than You Are" (I++U+) 6."I'm OK, You're OK" (I+U+) 7."I'm OK, You're Irrelevant" (I+U?) The difference between one's own OK-ness and other's OK-ness captured by description "I'm OK, You're not-OK" is proposed to be substituted by description that more accurately captures one's own feeling (not jumping to conclusions based only on one's perceived behavior), therefore stating the difference in a new way: "I'm not-OK, but You're worse" (I-,U--), instead.

COMMUNICATION STYLES
Every time we speak, we choose and use one of four basic communication styles: assertive, aggressive, passive and passive-aggressive. Assertive Communication The most effective and healthiest form of communication is the assertive style. It's how we naturally express ourselves when our self-esteem is intact, giving us the confidence to communicate without games and manipulation. When we are being assertive, we work hard to create mutually satisfying solutions. We communicate our needs clearly and forthrightly. We care about the relationship and strive for a win/win situation. We know our limits and refuse to be pushed beyond them just because someone else wants or needs something from us. Surprisingly, assertive is the style most people use least.

Assertive Communication

You choose and make decisions for you. You are sensitive and caring with your honesty You are direct You are self-respecting, self expressive and straight forward. You convert win-lose situations to win-win ones. You are willing to compromise and negotiate. You feel confident, self-respecting, goal-oriented, valued. Later you may feel a sense of accomplishment. Others feel valued and respected. Others view you with respect, trust and understand where you stand. The outcome is determined by above-board negotiation. Your rights and others
are respected.

Your underlying belief is that you have a responsibility to protect your own rights. You respect others but not necessarily their behaviour.

Aggressive Communication
Aggressive communication is a style in which individuals express their feelings and opinions and advocate for their needs in a way that violates the rights of others. It is a method of expressing needs and desires that do not take in to account the welfare of others. Those who communicate in an aggressive manner are generally perceived as selfish and unwilling to compromise. In agressive communication we simply want our needs met - and right now!

Aggressive communication

choose and make decisions for others. direct and forceful try to dominate others use humiliation to control others You demand your own way. You feel righteous, superior, controlling be very impulsive have low frustration tolerance speak in a loud, demanding, and overbearing voice act threateningly and rudely not listen well interrupt frequently Others feel humiliated, defensive, resentful and hurt around you.

PASSIVE COMMUNICATION
Passive communication is based on compliance and hopes to avoid confrontation at all costs. In this mode we don't talk much, question even less, and actually do very little. We just don't want to rock the boat. Passives have learned that it is safer not to react and better to disappear than to stand up and be noticed.

Passive communication

You allow others to choose and make decisions for you. You are emotionally dishonest You are indirect and self denying. You are inhibited. If you get your own way, it is by chance You feel anxious, ignored, helpless, manipulated, angry at yourself and/or others. Others feel guilty or superior and frustrated with you.

Others view you in the exchange as a pushover and that you dont know what you want or how you stand on an issue.
The outcome is that others achieve their goals at your expense. Your rights are violated. Your underlying belief is that you should never make someone uncomfortable or displeased except yourself

Passive-Aggressive Communication
A combination of styles, passive-aggressive avoids direct confrontation (passive), but attempts to get even through manipulation (aggressive). If you've ever thought about making that certain someone who needs to be "taught a thing or two" suffer (even just a teeny bit), you've stepped pretty close to (if not on into) the devious and sneaky world of the passiveaggressive. This style of communication often leads to office politics and rumour-mongering.

Passive Aggressive Communication

You allow others to choose and make decisions for you. You appear honest but underlying comments confuse. You tend towards indirectness with the air of being direct. You are self-enhancing but not straight forward about it. In win-lose situations you will make the opponent look bad or manipulate it so you win If you dont get your way youll make snide comments or pout and be the victim. You feel confused, unclear on how to feel, youre angry but not sure why. Later you possibly feel guilty. Others feel confused, frustrated, not sure who you are or what you stand for or what to expect next. Others view you in the exchange as someone they need to protect\ themselves from and fear being manipulated and controlled.

GAME ANALYSIS
AN ONGOING SERIES OF COMPLIMENTARY ULTERIOR TRANSACTIONS PROGRESSING TO A WELL DEFINED PREDICTABLE OUTCOME.

CHARACTERISTICS OF GAMES

REPETITIVE QUALITY PREDICTABLE & ULTERIOR LEARNT BEHAVIOURS - ACQUIRED IN CHILDHOOD PLAYERS INTUITIVELY SEEK OUT PARTNERS SOMEBODY IS PUT DOWN & BOTH PARTIES END UP WITH A BAD FEELING

Why game analysis ?

IT PROVIDES US WITH STROKES WE NEED THEY ARE DEFENCES TO PROTECT PEOPLE HELP US REINFORCE LIFE POSITIONS

How to stop ?
BECOME AWARE
REFRAIN FROM GIVING OTHERS NEGATIVE PAY

OFF LEARN TO CONFRONT THE GAME ACTIVATE THE ADULT

There are many different types of Communication but they can be classified into four basic types of communication. Types of Communication Based on Communication Channels
Verbal Communication Non-Verbal Communication

Types of Communication Based on Style and Purpose

Formal Communication Informal Communication