A Summary of Transactional Analysis Key Ideas

For more comprehensive descriptions of Transactional Analysis theory and practice you
can also purchase Therapeutic Journey, Practice and Life. 2005, TA Press, Oakland
California by James Allen M.D. (click here) or you can read or download: "A Summary
of Transactional Analysis Concepts I Use" by Fanita English (click here) and
"Transactional Analysis; An Elegant Theory and Practice" by Claude Steiner PhD. (click
here).

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 basically "OK" and thus
capable of change, growth, and healthy interactions.

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.

Ego States

Eric Berne made complex interpersonal transactions understandable when he recognized

that the human personality is made up of three "ego states". Each ego state is an entire
system of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors from which we interact with one another. 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.

Games People Play

Berne defined certain socially dysfunctional behavioral patterns as "games." These

repetitive, devious transactions are principally 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 behavior 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 behavior is the
aim of other applications of transactional analysis.

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.

Transactional Analysis

Transactional analysis is a social psychology developed by Eric

Berne, MD (d.1970). (Click here for a biography of Eric Berne.)
Over the past four decades Eric Berne's theory has evolved to
include applications to psychotherapy, counseling, education, and
organizational development. (Also see Key Ideas in Transactional
Analysis.)

Psychotherapy

Transactional analysis is a powerful tool to bring about human well being. In

psychotherapy, transactional analysis utilizes a contract for specific changes desired by
the client and involves the "Adult" in both the client and the clinician to sort out
behaviors, emotions and thoughts that prevent the development of full human potential.
Transactional analysts intervene as they work with clients in a safe, protective, mutually
respectful-OK/OK--- environment to eliminate dysfunctional behaviors and establish and
reinforce positive relationship styles and healthy functioning. Transactional analysts are
able to use the many tools of psychotherapy, ranging from psychodynamic to cognitive
behavioral methods in effective and potent ways. Examples of transactional analysis
psychotherapy can bee seen in our Master Therapists series, the Ellyn Bader and Peter
Pearson Couples Therapy Videotapes and the Carlo Moiso-Isabelle Crespelle DVD. (See
our Products page.)

Counseling
Counselors who utilize transactional analysis work contractually on solving "here and
now" problems. Counseling work focuses on creating productive problem solving
behaviors. Using transactional analysis, counselor's establish an egalitarian, safe and
mutually respectful working relationship with their clients. This working relationship
provides tools clients can utilize in their day-to-day functions to improve the quality of
their lives.

Educational

Transactional Analysis is a practical educational psychology that offers a way of

transforming educational philosophy and principles into everyday practice. TA concepts
provide a flexible and creative approach to understanding how people function and to the
connections between human behaviour, learning and education. Teaching them to both
teachers and students is a process of empowerment, enhancing effective methods of
interaction and mutual recognition.

Educational TA is both preventive and restorative. TA concepts are developed and used
with people of all ages and stages of development in their various social settings. The aim
is to increase personal autonomy, to support people in developing their own personal and
professional philosophies and to enable optimum psychological health and growth.

The key philosophical concepts that underpin Educational TA are:

• Effective educators offer empathic acceptance of all human beings as people

together with respect for their dignity. These qualities are at the heart of
successful learning relationships.
• People at any age and stage can learn to take responsibility for their own decisions
and actions.
• Educational difficulties can be addressed effectively with co-operative goodwill
and a coherent theoretical framework that makes sense of the human dynamics
involved.

The process of educational TA is contractual, so that all parties know where they stand,
and what agreements have been made for what purposes. Throughout the process the
ideas and methods of TA are used openly to promote informed co-operation and the
sharing of power between all parties.

TA can be used to address important issues in:

• initial and continuing teacher education

• institutional climate and culture
• developmental and educational needs
• self esteem building
• parent education
• student motivation
• staff morale and teacher well-being
 • blocks to learning and teaching
• behaviour management

Above all educational TA is invaluable in helping people to thrive and in promoting

healthy and effective learning in a wide variety of contexts.

Organizational

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 undergird 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 behaviors.

Examples of transactional analysis in Organizations can be seen in our videos: Conflict

Management by George Kohlreiser and Breaking the Communication Barrier by Abe
Wagner. (See our Products page.)

For more information on Transactional analysis, see Key Ideas.

http://www.itaa-net.org/