With the help of transactional analysis can not only identify but also correct problemsarising in the course of interaction with others.
And, despite the fact that the model of transactional analysis is rooted in psychoanalysis, its scale is much wider.
What is it and what is it used for?
Transaction analysis (TA) is a trend in psychology founded by the American psychologist Eric Lennard Bern.
The concept of TA is based on dividing the individual into social roles.
Wherein there are three basic positions (Adult, Parent, Child), which form the basis of social interaction, determining the nature of communication between people.
Transaction analysis was founded in 1955 It is still used in therapy in its original form, without any major changes or additions. Only a few parts of the theory were refined by Claude Steiner (colleague and like-minded by E. Bern).
The task of TA is primarily to provide psychological assistance to those people who suffer from problems in communication.
During the therapeutic process occurs personality reconstruction. Man breaks old, unviable and unproductive installations, replacing them with new ones.
A new system of values and solutions, focused on success.
Eric Bern, working on the theory of TA, took as a basis very difficult for an unprepared person psychoanalysis method. But at the same time, the famous psychologist tried to simplify the theory as much as possible, setting it out in a simple and understandable, and sometimes even primitive language.
He also developed a version of the presentation of the theory of transactional analysis for preschoolers.
Eric Berne did all this so that people could independently study and apply TA, analyzing and changing my behavior based on the knowledge gained.
Transaction - what is it?
Transaction is a key concept in transactional analysis. It denotes a unit of communication, which includes the stimulus and the corresponding reaction.
Example: The stimulus is the phrase: “How are you?”. In this case, the response to the stimulus may be the phrase: “Excellent! How are you doing?"
Transactions can be of three types:
- Complementary or parallel. During the direct interaction of people, the stimulus emanating from one participant in the interaction is supplemented by the reaction of another. At the same time, the stimuli and reactions correspond to the expectations of the people in contact.
- Intersecting. During the interaction, the stimulus and reaction intersect, acting as a ground for conflict. Such situations occur when, in response to a stimulus, there is an unexpected / inappropriate reaction in this case.
- Hidden. During interaction, a person says something to his interlocutor, in parallel putting in words a completely different meaning. As a result, the spoken words are sharply discordant with tone, mimicry, movements, and flow. It is hidden transactions that are used for manipulation and psychological play.
Transaction can take place on two levels.:
- social;
- psychological.
Transactional analysis of communication E. Bern
To sort out transaction analysis entities, it is necessary first of all to “get acquainted” with the three ego states of the individual.
Each state is the sum of a certain way of thinking, a set of feelings and behavioral strategies. For each state, this amount is unique and individual, different from the characteristic for other states of the amounts.
TA postulates:
- every man was once a child. And in every person, this child lives as a corresponding ego state;
- Each person (without deviations in terms of intellectual development or development of the brain) can give an adequate assessment of reality. The ability to perceive and systematize information coming from the outside world is characteristic of the ego-state of an Adult. Also, an Adult is able to make constructive and reasonable decisions;
- each person had parents or those who performed their role (guardians). And in each person the image of the parent remained as a corresponding ego state.
Ego states:
- Parental (P) The condition may be caring or critical. It consists of ready-made patterns of behavior, norms and rules, learned as a result of interaction with parents or individuals replacing them.
This state of self helps to overcome simple household tasks, to solve typical issues and act in conditions of time deficit.
- Adult (B) state I take decisions based on logic and a detailed analysis of the situation / information. The adult self does not depend on emotions and helps to adapt to unusual, non-standard and new situations for the individual (in which ready-made patterns of behavior do not work, and there is freedom of choice).
- Condition Baby (P) is guided by the sensual spectrum. At the same time, the feelings that he experienced in childhood influence the current behavior of the individual in the state of the Child. This state is responsible for creative activity, stress relief, getting pleasant impressions. The childish self can be natural (living reactions to situations such as joy and sadness), rebellious (protesting against something or someone) and adapting (guilty, intimidated, serving the Child).
Ego states provide stability positions, because they imply the convictions obtained at children's age and borrowed from their parents.
Positions
Position in TA - This is a kind of installation that determines the relationship of a person to himself and the people around him.
According to Bern, the position is formed in the earliest terms of life. In the future, it only becomes stronger.
Position can be compared with a certain designer, which is a combination of two basic beliefs.
Basic beliefs:
- I'M OK;
- I am not OK;
- You are OK;
- You are not OK.
It is difficult to accurately name the moment when a child is forming a position.
Bern believed that it was preceded by early decisions that entail justifying position.
For example, the “I am not OK” conviction may be the result of not giving up the ability to love. The kid decided that he would no longer experience a feeling of love towards someone, since the mother at some point rejected his feelings.
Next, the child will justify this decision with the help of the position “no one will ever love me”. That is, he assures himself that not worthy of love. And this hints at the presence of any defect in humans. This is the position “I am not OK”.
Variants and varieties in positions
There are four positions (combinations of positions) that affect the life scenario of a person. These positions reflect the "okayness" of the individual.
- Position number 1 "I - OK, You - OK." A healthy position, which in a more expanded version sounds like: "I am OK with myself, You are OK with me." A person fully perceives himself and the person in contact with him.
The individual who has adopted this position will most likely live according to a winning scenario.
He is sure that those around him love and trust. This means that you can love others in return and trust them.
- Position number 2 "I - not OK, you - OK." A person with this position is more likely to be guided by a losing life scenario. He will take away the role of the victim and unsuccessful player. At the same time, the individual will voluntarily give up his potential victories to those around him who are more successful and worthy in his opinion.
- Position # 3 “I am OK, You are not OK”. This position claims the status of "winning". But it is based on a destructive belief. A person with this position believes that he should rise above people, his triumph provoking in others a sense of his own insignificance. But over time, the competition is exhausting, and others are bored with playing the role of "humiliated pawns."
- Position №4 “I am not OK, You are not OK”. The most losing position, which is the basis for an unhappy and empty life. The person is sure that nobody needs him and is rejected by society. And to seek help in the face of others is meaningless, since the rest of the people are also rejected and unable to arrange their lives.
How is communication built?
“I am OK, you are OK”
If a person adheres to the position “I am OK, You are OK”, then he is aimed at productive and active interaction with others.
Such people do not refuse to act, since the fact of "okay" is a direct confirmation of a person’s competence and a potential positive result of this activity.
Those. person not trying to dump responsibility on others, accepts and performs its part of the duties and tasks, engaging in dialogue with others.
“I am not OK, you are OK”
Position representative moves away from interaction.
But in this case, a person can choose one of two options: scenario behavior or behavior according to the ego state.
For example, a position representative has to hear a complaint from a friend. If he chooses scenario behavior (corresponding to the position) it is necessary to perform actions that strengthen the position.
The main character will think that he cannot help his friend. After all, a supporter of the position “I am not OK” is not on the shoulder to help someone. But the other person in this coordinate system is normal and he does not know that it is useless to wait.
Therefore, the only way out for the main character is to escape under any pretext, again making sure of his own inability to solve the problem (not okay).
If you are guided by the ego state of the Adult, you can consciously choose the escape variant. Those. the main character understands that the friend will complain. Adult condition wants to avoid a situation in which he is involved in other people's problems.
Therefore, the hero collects his belongings and, with respectful excuse, leaves the room, leaving a friend. At the same time, he is not guided by his own fear of the inability to solve problems, but by the lack of a desire to solve other people's problems.
“I am OK, you are not OK”
Representatives of this position trying to get rid of the interaction.
As in the case of the previous position, two behavior options are available.
The main character, while in the workplace, learns from his subordinate about the error in the report.
In this case, an unexpected guest asks to help him correct the document. Acting on the script, the hero begins to shout at the subordinate and humiliate him, demanding to immediately correct the error.
When the humiliated employee is removed, the hero still scrolls the story in his head, complaining about the stupidity of others.
So the adherent of the position is strengthened in the thought that "You (they) are not OK."
Acting like an Adult, the person will ask the subordinate to correct the error himself. The progress report of the main character asks to send by mail.
Further, the hero refers to the urgent work and gets rid of the annoying subordinate, while maintaining the position of "okay" for themselves and others.
"I am not OK, you are not OK."
The protagonist learns that his wife set a local fire in the kitchen. Further he selects a behavior model based on the available options.
According to the scenario, the hero will shout at his wife, complaining about life for the misfortunes that have befallen him. You can't rely on your wife, because everything falls out of her hands. Yes, and the hero himself turned out to be just disgusting.
Guided by Adult Condition, the main character will calm his wife. He will assure her that he will soon come home to assess the scale of the problem and together decide how to eliminate the consequences of an unpleasant situation.
Through transactional analysis can determine your position and adjust it, and also to come to cooperation and productive interaction with people around.
Eric Berne's Transactional Analysis:
