Communication failures are typically caused by a ‘crossed transaction’ where partners address ego states other than that their partner is in. Consider the above examples jumbled up a bit. Example 1a: A:  “Have you been able to write that report?” (Adult to Adult) B:  “Will you stop hassling me? I’ll do it eventually!” (Child to [...]

A little mini-series on Transactional Analysis [TA], looking at psychological games — why we get stuck in them, and how to get out. This video lays some groundwork, explaining TA’s concept of three different states of mind: Parent, Adult and Child …. Here is the link to the video. Recommended TA texts: 1) Ian Stewart [...]

TA is a theory of personality and a systematic psychotherapy for personal growth and personal change. As a theory of personality, TA describes how people are structured psychologically. It uses what is perhaps its best known model, the ego-state (Parent-Adult-Child) model to do this. This same model helps understand how people function and express themselves [...]

(Compiled by Fusun Akkoyun, Ph.D., CTA, TA 101 Instructor, in 2007) __________________________________________________________ A. CURE Gordon, E. (1980). Assessment of cure: A’ cure checklist’. TAJ. 10, 2, 107-114. ( It is proposed from the points of view both the therapist and the client.) Berne E. (1976). Minimal Basic Science Curriculum for Clinical Membership in the ITAA. [...]

I just got the following message from Julie Hay: Dear EATA Member During the conference in Prague, we launched the EATA research journal – IJTAR – International Journal of Transactional Analysis Research. Online access if free to all so please go to www.ijtar.org and sign in. Please also publicise this link to your colleagues, especially [...]

I’m OK – You’re OK “I’m OK – You’re OK” is probably the best-known expression of the purpose of transactional analysis: to establish and reinforce the position that recognizes the value and worth of every person. Transactional analysts regard people as basically “OK” and thus capable of change, growth, and healthy interactions. Strokes Berne observed [...]

I was amazed to find another really interesting TA related video. What is even more amazing is to see that people do teach TA in school. Here is the synopsis of the video: The pupils and staff of Grange Middle School in Harrow use transactional analysis to help to develop emotional literacy and improve behaviour. [...]

A simple, reciprocal transaction occurs when both partners are addressing the ego state the other is in. These are also called complementary transactions. Example 1 A:  “Have you been able to write the report?” B:  “Yes – I’m about to email it to you.”  —- (This exchange was Adult to Adult) Example 2 A:  “Would [...]

At any given time, a person experiences and manifests their personality through a mixture of behaviors, thoughts and feelings. Typically, according to TA, there are three ego-states that people consistently use: Parent (“exteropsyche”): a state in which people behave, feel, and think in response to an unconscious mimicking of how their parents (or other parental [...]

TA is not only post-Freudian but according to its founder’s wishes consciously extra-Freudian. That is to say that while it has its roots in psychoanalysis – since Berne was a psychoanalytic-trained psychiatrist – it was designed as a dissenting branch of psychoanalysis in that it put its emphasis on transactional, rather than “psycho-”, analysis. With [...]