3. Transactional Analysis
•Dr. Eric Berne, the originator of TA, defined a term
transaction - the fundamental unit of social
intercourse.
•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
•It is a theory of communication that can be extended
to the analysis of systems and organisations
4. A Sketch of Eric Berne
DoB: May 10, 1910, Canada
Studied Medicine & received
and Master of Surgery
Began training as psychoanalyst at NY
Psychoanalytic Institute in 1941
Army psychiatrist during World War II
have written many books including Games People
Play
7. Parent
Set of thoughts, feelings and behaviors
learnt or borrowed from parents or
other care takers
Critical Parent – prejudiced thoughts,
feelings & behaviors from our parents
Nurturing Parent – Soft, loving and
permission giving
8. Adult
Oriented towards current reality
and objective gathering of
information
No relation with a person’s age
Data processing center
Solutions based on facts and not
solely on pre-judged thoughts or
childlike emotions
9. Child
Seat of emotions, thoughts, memories
from childhood
How one responded to early
experiences and the positions one took
about oneself & others
Types:
Free Child – Spontaneous feeling, playful,
authentic, emotional
Adapted Child – Comply with parental messages
Rebellious Child – Does not comply with
parental messages
20. How to judge -what ego state you
are in
Tone of Voice
if soft -Nurturing parent
if Harsh -Critical parent
if tone is clear -Adult
if cheerful & emotional-Free Child
if goodboy tone -Adaptive Child
21. Transactions
How people interact with each
other
Which ego state in me is talking to
which ego state in you
Communication can sometimes be
straightforward, easy and smooth
It can also jumbled, confusing and
unclear
Understanding of transactions can
help keep communication as clear as
possible
22. Examples
P P
A A
C C
Late for an important
meeting
24. Examples
P P
A A
C C
Apologizes and says
‘Sorry!’
25. Examples
P P
A A
C C
Scared of Lizards.
Expresses fear.
26. Examples
P P
A A
C C
“Don’t worry. I’ll take
care”
27. Complementary
Transactions
appropriate and expected
response
follows natural order of healthy
human relationships
lines of communication open
between the transactors
gestures, facial expression, body
posture, tone included
28. Examples
P P
A A
C C
Late for an important
meeting
32. Crossed Transactions
unexpected & highly
unstable
inappropriate ego state activated
people glaring, turning backs at
each other or switch conversation
in different direction
conversation might end as well
