The transactional analysis theory is a theory created by Eric Berne at the beginning of the 20th century, which is currently widely used in organizational, educational and clinical settings with the intention of promoting personal growth and the development of human potential.
In the following Psychology-Online article, we will explain what this theory consists of, the techniques it uses to carry out personal change and we will detail a practical example in relation to overcoming a lack of self-esteem.
What is Berne’s theory of transactional analysis?
Berne’s theory of transactional analysis is a theory of personality with a humanistic basis. which, based on the belief in true human potential, focuses on the integral development of people based on analysis of the vital transactions that occur in their lives and therapeutic intervention on the negative aspects that limit the development of personal potential.
Eric Berne was a psychoanalytically oriented psychiatrist whose main objective was to create a theory or social model that would allow the explanation of human behavior through the analysis of vital functioning of people. This sociopsychological model is based on three premises on which its development is based:
- People are born pure and perfect
- With great potential to deliver to the world
- Equipped with the capacity to change
The three ego states in transactional analysis
Based on these philosophical principles, the author formulated his theory according to which a person develops three ego states that will function permanently and alternately at each moment of their life. These entities will have a similar equivalence to:
- Parent Self State: This state will be equivalent to the psychoanalytic “superego”, according to which the person internalizes a whole series of norms about how he or she should act, others and the world in his or her daily life.
- Adult Ego State: In this case, this state will resemble the psychoanalytic “I” and would correspond to the person’s present and conscious state.
- Child Ego State: This last state would be conditioned by all the unconscious beliefs about oneself, about others and about life that the person has acquired throughout their childhood experiences, most of them remaining in the unconscious. This entity would be equivalent to the psychoanalytic “id.”
According to Berne, the person creates a life script from these three ego states that guide and regulate their life behavior. This life script is made up of a series of unconscious beliefs that are internalized as adaptation mechanisms to the environment. In many cases, part of this life script is rigid and subjects the person to the execution of certain stereotyped behaviors, called by Berne “psychological games”, which follow the established guidelines and confirm the life script created without allowing the person live naturally and spontaneously.
This is so before the part of the life script created from negative or traumatic experiences the result of which is the assumption of certain self-harming and limiting beliefs that generate psychological games that limit the development of true human potential. The main objective of the therapeutic intervention of transactional analysis is to become aware of this negative part of the life script along with the psychological games that it entails and how these limit the free and healthy development of the person in their life.
What techniques does the theory of transactional analysis use?
To carry out the process of catharsis and personal cleansing of limiting aspects that do not allow the person to grow and develop their full potential to deliver it to the world, the theory of transactional analysis uses certain techniques:
- Awareness of the alternate functioning of the three ego states: Through this technique, the person becomes aware of how they think, feel and act differently depending on the state of self they are in at any given moment and how this determines their state of well-being and happiness. These three states contain a positive part that would be equivalent to the assumption of norms of cordial and peaceful coexistence, in the case of the “parent self”, conscious and sober action in the present, in the case of the “adult self” and spontaneity. , play, joy and naturalness, in the case of the “child self.” However, there is a negative and limiting part that would correspond to the assumption of punitive norms, in the case of the “parent self”, the performance dominated mainly by the “child self” and the “child self” in the “adult self” and the censorship created by fears and traumas in the “child self.” Awareness of the different manifestations of these three states is an important part of this therapeutic process to motivate change.
- From this awareness, HE determines and establishes the life script created by the person throughout their life and it is verified how it has influenced and continues to influence their health.
- To deepen this awareness, the different “psychological games” that the person has internalized are specified as behaviors that feed and sustain their life script.
- Based on the detailed analysis of these important details, a contractual agreement between both parties regarding therapeutic programming established in a way that involves the motivation and involvement of the patient, assuming themselves as an active part of their own process of personal change.
- The therapy will use the technique of contrast the irrationality of the beliefs that support the life script and psychological games, offering and putting into practice new ways of thinking, feeling and acting that are more realistic, constructive and healthy for the person.
A concrete way to approach problems from the theory of transactional analysis
Next, we will present a specific way to address a self-esteem problem within an educational environment:
When faced with a young person with self-esteem problems, the therapeutic intervention based on the theory of transactional analysis would consist of inquire with the patient about their childhood experiences and how these interacted with the family educational style and the environment to build a certain “parent self” and “child self” that will decisively condition the performance of the “young self” through the life script created and the psychological games used.
In these cases, what is expected is that it is a young person with a minimum level of emotional lack nourished by rigid and authoritarian, overprotective or absent parental educational patterns that have established beliefs of insufficiency and worthlessness and distrust of others and the world. in general. These irrational beliefs have created a life script that leads them to act using psychological games. concrete facts that will verify him as a “second-class character”. This way of proceeding separates the person from the rest of his colleagues, which leads him to confirm his worthlessness by not being treated as one more.
Showing all this complex mechanism to the young person will allow them to become aware of the way in which they construct their own reality. From there, you will be shown alternative ways of life and you will be encouraged to put it into practice so you can see for yourself the benefits that personal change generates in your life. Accompanied at all times, you will be encouraged to progressively make the change towards ways of acting that are more respectful of yourself and, consequently, open to others.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Berne, E. (2016). Transactional analysis in psychotherapy: A systematic individual and social psychiatry. Pickle Partners Publishing.
- de la Fuente, FV (2004). Transactional analysis (properly speaking), by Eric Berne. El Catoblepas Digital Magazine34, 16-55.
- Pereira, MLN (2011). A review of the theory of Transactional Analysis and possible applications in Guidance education. education magazine35(1), 1-47.