Counseling - Test 1 - Transactional Analysis

Eric Berne

He created transactional analysis

cognitive; psychoanalytic

TA is a combination of _________ and _________ approaches

1. Stimulus Hunger
2. Structure Hunger
3. Position Hunger

TA believes human nature is motivated by what 3 fundamental needs?

Stimulus Hunger

the need to be affirmed/recognized by others; we want to receive strokes ("warm fuzzies" - makes us feel good)
* we would rather get negative strokes than no strokes
* Strokes result in either good or bad behavior called STAMPS which can be cashed in when

Structure Hunger

the need to structure time effectively and maximize the number of strokes received

1. Withdrawal
2. Rituals and pasttimes
3. Activities
4. Games
5. Intimacy

How do we structure time?

Withdrawal

this way of structuring time is safe and avoids risk, but you don't receive strokes

Rituals and pasttimes

this way of structuring time consists of low risk, non-involving social interactions; "pleasantries"; superficial
EX: "Hey how are you?" "Good how are you?

Activities

any work or other goal-oriented behavior in which the accomplishment of the task brings the needed strokes; work, hobbies

Games (Ulterior Transactions)

this way of structuring time involves interactions based on unwritten rules designed to create pay off (negative payoff); usually covert and dishonest; common problem in relationships
* underhandedly get others to do something for you
* avoidance of intim

Intimacy

this way of structuring time is an honest, game-free relationship with mutuality, no exploitation

Position Hunger

the need to have our fundamental life decision validated and affirmed; to be told we are either OK or NOT OK;
* we make this decision about ourselves and others early in life; environmental experiences influence these positions; what are parents tell us a

Personality is composed of three ego states
1. The Parent
2. The Adult
3. The Child
We carry these states around in our mind

What is the structure of personality in TA?

Parent ego state

part of the personality where our thinking/responding is influenced by our parent's way of interacting with us
* filled with values, injunctions (internalized messages sent to us by parents telling us how to be), shoulds & oughts, and behaviors internaliz

The Nurturing Parent

one part of the parent ego state that consists of internalized messages (injunctions) that were loving, supporting and accepting; results in adult nurturing responses

The Critical Parent

one part of the parent ego state that consists of internalized messages that were rejecting, controlling, and judgmental; results in adult critical responses

Adult Ego State

the objective part of the personality that processes information; has no feeling
* asks factual questions: what, when, why
* mediates b/w Parent and Child
* focuses on decision-making
* presents situations in an organized and intelligent way

Child Ego State

part of the personality that is child-like; reflects the little boy/girl that never grows up; reflects child-like feeling
* fun-loving, affectionate, selfish, mean, playful, whiny, manipulative, spontaneous
* divided into 2 parts

The Natural/Free Child

one part of the Child ego state that is impulsive, pleasure-seeking, uninhibited, aggressive, rebellious, creative, affectionate, etc.

The Adapted Child

one part of the Child ego state that ignores own instincts and tries to please parents; complies, procrastinates, negotiates
* duplicates reactions individuals had toward parents in childhood including feelings, such as guilt, fear, and anger
Ex: this ego

responses; ego states

To be healthy, one must balance __________ and __________ appropritately

ego state boundary problems

Maladaptive behavior is caused by _______________

Parent contaminates Adult" Contamination

when the Adult ego state is interfered with by the prejudicial or irrational ideas of the Parent
Ex: all young people today are going to the dogs
* this is a statement coming from the critical Parent, but is stated with the belief that is it a fact

Child contaminated Adult" Contamination

when the Adult ego state is interfered with by the archaic feelings of the Child
EX: "I'm no good, can't do anything right"; "i don't have any friends"
* this is a statement coming from the archaic Child, but is stated as if it were a fact; may not be an

Exclusion

when one or more ego states are effectively prevented from operating
EX: Constant Parent - always pointing finger
* The Constant Adult: exclusion of Parent and Child by Adult
* The Constant Child: exclusion of Parent and Adult by Child

Rackets

unpleasant, habitual feelings that person holds on to after a playing games
* becomes a basic part of life's script
* originating in the experiences we had in growing up
* convinces one of his/her not OK position
EX: guilt racket, depression racket, the w

Injunctions

Parental messages that tell children what to do and how to be
* stem from parent's own anxiety, frustration, unhappiness (live thru child)
* Children decide to accept or challenge them
* Goulding - wrote book of _______ that children hear; EX: "dont be",

maladaptive behavior

When children decide to accept negative injunctions, this leads to ___________

Scripts

A personal life plan which dictates behavior
* Formed early in life in reaction to important experiences such as the injunctions one is exposed to
* Relates to these questions: "Who am I?", "What am I doing here?", and "Who are all those others?".

1. Structural analysis - analyze client's ego states ("Constant Parent"? "Constant Adult"? "Constant Child"?)
2. Functional Analysis - analysis of transactions; diagnosing the ego states that emerge in a social interchange
3. Analyze injunctions, scripts,

What are the functions and goals of TA therapy?

egogram

a diagram portraying the energy one expends in each ego state

1. Complimentary transactions
2. Crossed transactions
3. Ulterior transactions

What are the three kinds of transactions

Complimentary Transactions

Lines of communication are parallel; Communication can proceed smoothly and
indefinitely
EX: Adult to Adult; Parent to Child, Child to Parent

Crossed Transactions

Lines of communication are crossed
� Communication is broken off
� Relationship breaks down
EX: Asking question as Adult and receiving Child response: "What time did you get in last night?" "None of your business!"
* Asking question as Parent to Child, an

Ulterior Transactions

Two messages are sent, one overt, the other
implied and unspoken
� Can lead to repetitive game playing; uses other person in unhealthy way

- Why don't you - yes, but . . . (not wanting to solve problem, just want attention)
- Seduction
- Uproar
- Blemish
- Look how hard I tried
- Cops and robbers.

Examples of different games

Conditional stroke

stroke given for doing something

Contract

an agreement between counselor and client that specifies the goals, stages, and conditions of treatment

Controlling Parent

Opinionated, powerful, strongly protective, principled, punitive, demanding, in charge

Discounting

involves ignoring/distorting some aspect of internal or external experience. One may discount the existence or significance of a problem, the change possibilities of a problem, or one's own personal abilities. Selling short

Drama Triangle

a triadic interaction in which one person acts as persecutor, another as rescuer, and third as victim, as occurs occasionally in love relationships

Filtered stroke

stroke that is distorted or containing nonrelevant information

Little Professor

part of the Child ego state that is the forerunner of Adult reasoning; source of intuition, creativity, and manipulation

Stamps

feelings or strokes collected to justify some later behavior

stroke

a unit of attention providing stimulation to a person

symbiosis

two or more individuals behave as though they form a whole person; coming together

I'm OK, you're OK

these people have formed a self-concept, are acknowledged as individuals, and have positive self-identity as well as positive image of others

I'm OK, you're not OK

these people have a positive self-image, but see everyone else as the enemy; paranoid position

I'm not OK, you're OK

these people blame themselves for everything that goes wrong; drowning in guilt

I'm not OK, you're not OK

these people have a poor self image and harbor hostility and anger toward outside world