Transactional Analysis

Ego States Transactional Analysis or TA, is a very simple, easily comprehensible method of understanding human behaviour. It is based on the analysis of transactions between persons. A transaction is defined as an exchange between two people. The exchange is of thoughts and of feelings, expressed verbally in words or conveyed non-verbally in voice variations and gestures. A transaction is the basic unit of social interaction. T.A. is based on the following concepts, developed by Dr.Eric Berne, a psychoanalyst. 1. Every person regardless of age, has 3 main behavioural characteristics: Parent (P), Adult (A) and Child (C). These are called Ego states. 2. Each Ego State represents a set of behaviours, thoughts, feelings and attitudes. 3. The P develops from all that one has been taught or had observed in the behaviour of parents and elders. The related behaviours are advise, train, feed, coach, protect (called Nurturing P - the mothers role) scold, criticise. punish, lay down rules, (called Critical P - the role of the father)

4. The A represents the use of discrimination, reasoning, evaluation, data analysis, use of logic, ability to observe objectively and correctly 5. The C represents the innate, spontaneous, uninhibited nature, like having fun, being inquisitive, crying, demanding, being impulsive, curious, shy, fantasising, called the Free Child or FC. and also includes the Adaptive Child or AC, which is the response to the forces from outside and includes obedience, sulking, manipulating, aggression, rebelliousness, with feelings of guilt and anxiety.

When a person functions from the Parent ego state, he is in the same state of mind as a parent would be in relation and would express similar postures, gestures, vocabulary and feelings. In the Adult ego state, the characteristics are rationality and objectivity. In the Child ego state, the characteristics are spontaneity, curiosity and fantasy. Children have A (seen when learning or when experimenting with toys like the mechano) as well as CP and NP ego states (seen not only when playing with younger children, but also while leading elders along activities with which they are more familiar). Very old people play around (with grandchildren), have fun and mischief with their contemporaries and sulk when things are not to their liking. They are then in the Child Ego state.

Some of the ego states relating to behaviours are indicated below. Child cuddling the doll NP Not liking what you are told AC Being self centred FC Getting angry AC Writing advertisement copy FC Evaluating tenders A Succumbing to pressure AC Finding fault CP Unable to decide AC or A Risk taking FC or A These Ego States are like tapes in ones system, which get activated and lead to certain kinds of behaviours. Everybody has all the five states in him/her. The extent of dominance of any, varies and that determines the dominant style of behaviour. Ego State Indicators Ego States are revealed in the words, voice (tone, pitch, volume), facial expressions, gestures and postures. They are easy to observe, detect and help to understand behaviour. The words "Come here" may be an Adult ego state request, from a colleague to another, or a command from a senior to a junior for the purpose of discussing a difficult matter or to be reprimanded for an error. In each of these three situations the voice levels and facial expressions will be different. The real meaning to the words "Come here" will be understood when seen with the accompanying sounds and expressions, which automatically change with the ego state from which the person is at that time, behaving. The question "When will be report be ready" could be from an A ego state, wanting information for further planning, or from an NP wanting to know whether any help is required, or from a CP wanting to know why it is not ready already. Imagine a father loudly scolding his noisy disobeying son. His voice is loud, eyes red, body stiff, face taut. Suddenly the telephone rings and his boss is on the line. The CP would change to Adult or even an AC, voice become moderate even submissive, body slightly slouched, lips smiling. The following is a list of words and voices normally associated with the various ego states.

WORDS: CP: never, should, ought,must, stupid, ridiculous NP : good,nice, I love you, splendid , dont worry ,let me help A : when, how, what,why, where, alternative. FC :wow, fun, want,lovely, super, hi. AC : no, wish, I am sick, hope, sorry, after you VOICE CP:strong,critical,condescending,authoritative NP: soft,loving, encouraging, concerned A:even, calm, confident, unemotional, FC: free,excited, energetic,giggling AC : whining , defiant, apologetic, placating. GESTURES CP:closed ,pointed fingers,angry,frightening, NP:open arms, accepting, gentle, caressing A:erect, level eye, straight, formal, FC: uninhibited, wide eyed, flirtatious, playful AC : pouting, sullen,immobile, distant ATTITUDE CP: judgmental,Moralistic NP: understanding,caring A: open, evaluative FC: curious, changeable AC : conforming, ashamed

Strokes
Another concept in T.A. is that of Strokes, which are only acts of recognition. Everybody has a hunger for strokes. We are used to physical stoking while we were children. They were comforting. We stroke pets at home. The pets expect it. They are unhappy if they are not stroked by the master when he gets back at the end of a working day. Human beings are not dissimilar in their craving for strokes. We would still need physical stroking as in an embrace or hug. In times of great sorrow, as when there is a death in the family, close relatives do embrace each other by way of comforting. When friends meet, the hand shake is a variation of the physical stroke. The housewife who cooks a good dinner for guests, gets stroked, when there is appreciation for the food, through specific comments to that effect, or when the dishes are wiped clean or when someone asks for the recipe for that dish Where physical stroking may not be convenient or appropriate, psychological stroking is resorted to. The greeting in the morning is stroking. When friends meet everyday, a simple Hello" is good enough as a greeting. But if they have not met for a long time, as when a colleague has been on leave, a simple Hello will not do. Some more exchanges have to take place. That is the compensation for the lack of stroking during the period of absence. A stroke is a unit of recognition. Positive strokes (compliments, praise) satisfy most. Negative strokes (criticism, ridicule) are more satisfying than no strokes at all. Many workers have become recalcitrant because they were ignored at work and got no strokes at all. Many marriages are threatened after a few years, because each spouse takes the other for granted and does not provide strokes. A stroke is satisfying and is therefore a reward. Like any other reward, strokes also, if given indiscreetly, may misdirect. One must not provide a positive stroke at the time of an undesirable behaviour. All the rules about providing recognition apply to the use of strokes. Strokes reassure, provide confirmation of value of individuals, communicate about desirable and undesirable behaviours. Celebrations of successes, recognition of birthdays, mention in house bulletins, appreciation of laurels earned by members of the family, competition, incentives etc., are all variations of positive strokes aimed to attain high levels of satisfaction and motivation among employees and even dealers

Games
A third concept relates to Structuring time and discusses the various ways in which people try to spend time, many of which are non-productive, but consume time and energy. The various ways have been studied and classified into various categories and some of them are called games. These are psychological games and are played quite spontaneously. They provide satisfactions to the players, which are called pay-offs. Games have hidden agendas. The player is aiming at a certain outcome, which is not obvious to the uninitiated. They tend to be repetitive. Games prevent honest, intimate and open relationships. Yet people play them because they fill up time, often provoke attention, and fulfil a sense of identity. Games help you to feel that ones problems are created by others misdemeanours.

Life Positions
The fourth concept is that of Life Positions. They are based on the assumptions one makes about oneself and about others in general. These are stated in terms of OK and NOT OK. The OK position is when one feels good about (self or other), feels that the person is adequate, has respect for him. The OK stance, in respect of self or others, does not presume that the person is perfect. It accepts the reality and recognises the deficiencies, without any sense of shame. The NOT OK position is just the opposite, when one feels that the person concerned is not alright, not adequate, not competent, not reliable, etc. These positions are taken largely because of the messages received during ones upbringing. Basically there are four positions. I am OK, You are OK. This is a healthy, optimistic and confident position. In this position, there is a lot of respect for self and for others. The behaviours are likely to be respectful, supportive, collaborative, treating others as mature and worthwhile. He listens, is nondefensive, delegates, develops others. I am OK, You are not OK. In this position, there is arrogance, lack of trust, tendency to blame everyone. Others are treated as immature, they feel annoyed, non-cooperative, hostile. It does not build subordinate competence. I am Not OK, You are OK. In this position, the person is insecure and depressed, never asserts, is not persistent, lets other take over and do what they like. He submits to pressure from both above and below and often lets someone else manage. I am Not OK, You are not OK. This is the worst situation where he feels that the total situation is helpless. There is no energy to do. There is indifference and neglect.