In Schiffian theory, a symbiosis is said to occur when two or more individuals behave as though between them they form a single person.

1. Symbiosis
Transactional Analysis

2. Prepared By
Manu Melwin Joy
Assistant Professor
Ilahia School of Management Studies
Kerala, India.
Phone – 9744551114
Mail – manu_melwinjoy@yahoo.com
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3. Symbiosis
In Schiffian theory, a
symbiosis is said to occur
when two or more
individuals behave as
though between them
they form a single person.

4. Symbiosis
In a relationship like this,
the people concerned will
not be using their full
complement of ego states.
Typically, one of them will
be excluding Child and
using only Parent and
Adult.

5. Symbiosis
Once a symbiosis has been
established, the
participants feel
comfortable. There is a
sense that everybody is in
the role that is expected of
them.

6. Symbiosis
But that comfort is
acquired at a price :
the people in the
symbiosis are each
shutting out whole
areas of their own
grown up resources.

7. Symbiosis
In everyday relating,
people move into and out
of symbiosis with each
other from moment to
moment. Sometimes also,
a long term relationship is
founded upon symbiosis.

8. Symbiosis
There is one important
feature for symbiosis.
When one of the partners
perceives that the other is
about to withdraw from
the symbiotic pairing, the
other is likely to defend
against this withdrawal.

9. Symbiosis
Their belief is : “ without
the other, I wont be able
to stand on my own”.
Paradoxically, it is this
belief which gives
symbiosis its apparent
quality of stability.

10. Symbiosis
There is not guarantee
that you will feel more
comfortable in this
independent position that
you did in the mutual
leaning position.

11. Symbiosis
In fact, many people report
feeling less comfortable when
they move out of symbiosis.
They are aware that they have
more options – of moving,
breaking and making contract –
than they had when they were
propping each other up.

12. Symbiosis
When two people move
out of symbiosis in a
relationship, they have
more options, more
flexibility, less
predictability and no
guarantee of feeling more
comfortable initially.

13. References

14. Thank You