Transactional Analysis Theory

After twenty years and more than 3 million copies sold, Born to Win proves that Transactional Analysis theory holds wide appeal for the American public attempting to decode and improve their interpersonal skills. Born to Win offers an overview of Transactional Analysis (16), emphasizes that the human spirit thrives in the midst of nurturing and positive attention (44), and suggests that everyone can become a winner (1) if they first begin by embracing authenticity (2). Transactional Analysis establishes as its ultimate goal the achievement of autonomy (263). According to Berne and his followers, one can achieve mastery over one's self and others by learning to identify those parts of one's self which operate ineffectively by producing conflict inside and outside the self.

Dr. Eric Berne postulated the first premises of Transactional Analysis after observing his patients change their behavior in response to new stimuli. Since these responses included a wide range of reactions involving facial gestures, word intonations, sentence structure, and body movements, Berne felt that he was watching various "selves" emerge which from moment to moment struggled to be in charge of the patient's total personality (11). Berne developed Transactional Analysis as a method of psycotherapy which was to be conducted in group settings so that participants could learn to see the games they played and the scripts they acted out (11).

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ransactions occur when an "unexpected response is made to the stimulus" and an "inappropriate ego state is activated" and the lines of transaction between the two people are crossed (26). This behavior is most frequently seen when two stand people glare, turn their backs or are unwilling to continue transacting with each other. The third type, Ulterior Transactions, are the most complex, differing from Complementary and Crossed Transactions by always involving more than two ego states. "When an ulterior message is sent, it is disguised under a socially acceptable transaction" (29). Claude Steiner has identified "gallows transaction" as a certain kind of Ulterior Transaction which employs "an inappropriate laugh or smile" expressing an individual's destructive behavior (30). Such behavior is common among losers who rely upon such tactics "to promote their psychological games" (31). Berne's theory of Transactional Analysis indicates that individuals may form repetitive, unproductive patterns of relating which can be described as games. A psychological game is "a reoccurring set of transactions, often repetitive, superficially rational, with a concealed motivation" or "a series of transactions with a gimmick" (31). When indiv
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Approximate Word count = 1517
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

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