About
Transactional Analysis
Transactional Analysis (TA) is
a way of understanding human personality based on the
writings of Eric Berne. Berne, a Medical Doctor and
Psychiatrist. One of its features is that the human psyche
is composed of three ego states, which came to be
recognized as the Child, the Parent, and the Adult.
The Child takes two forms: the NATURAL CHILD, who lives in
a world of feeling and whose favorite expression is "I'd
like…," and the ADAPTED CHILD, who adapts either by
submitting or rebelling to avoid the pressure of being
molded and whose favorite words are, "I won't," or "I
can't" or "but…"
The Parent also has two forms: the CRITICAL PARENT, who is
negative and judgmental, whose favorite words are "Don't",
and "Why" and "But..." and the NURTURING PARENT, who give
Permission to feel, and Protection from harm.
The ADULT is like a computer. It know what day it is, what
time it is, and is devoid of feeling, dealing with reality
as it perceives it.
Ego states may be easily seen in the story of the Three
Bears. Papa Bear comes into the kitchen in the morning and
in a grumpy PARENT voice says, "SOMEBODY'S EATEN MY
PORRIDGE!" This wakes up Baby Bear who comes on in
CHILD-like plaintive voice, "somebody's eaten my porridge!"
Mama Bear enters at this point and says in an ADULT voice,
"I haven't cooked the porridge yet."
The core belief of TA is, "It's OK with me to be me, and
it's OK with me for you to be you." This has nothing to do
with one's behavior. It refers solely to the value of every
human being.
For References see: Eric Berne, Games People Play, Muriel
James, Born to Win, and H. D. Johns, From Fear to Fury. For
an explanation of the GWITA Logo above please click
here.