TRANSACTION ANALYSISTRANSACTION ANALYSIS

Transactional Analysis is a social psychology and a method to Transactional Analysis is a social psychology and a method to improve communication. The theory outlines how we have improve communication. The theory outlines how we have developed and treat ourselves, how we relate and developed and treat ourselves, how we relate and communicate with others, and offers suggestions and communicate with others, and offers suggestions and interventions which will enable us to change and grow. interventions which will enable us to change and grow. Transactional Analysis is underpinned by the philosophy Transactional Analysis is underpinned by the philosophy that: that:

people can change people can change

we all have a right to be in the world and be accepted we all have a right to be in the world and be accepted

Our minds tend to focus on the Our minds tend to focus on the negativenegative and and so this encourages failure.so this encourages failure.

For example, how many times do we look For example, how many times do we look round when someone says to us "Don't look round when someone says to us "Don't look now but......." , the same is true when we set up now but......." , the same is true when we set up contracts which start "I don't want to contracts which start "I don't want to do .............. anymore". do .............. anymore".

look the balloons…….

look the balloons…….

Our psychological contract Our psychological contract should be should be Measurable, Measurable,

Manageable and Motivational.Manageable and Motivational.

Our psychological contract Our psychological contract should be should be Measurable, Measurable,

Manageable and Motivational.Manageable and Motivational.

Then at first we must know the ego states of ourselves

Each transaction / communication should be balanced

Parent Ego stateParent Ego state

This is a set of feelings, thinking and behaviour that This is a set of feelings, thinking and behaviour that we have copied from our parents and significant we have copied from our parents and significant others.others.

As we grow up we take in ideas, beliefs, feelings and As we grow up we take in ideas, beliefs, feelings and behaviours from our parents and caretakers. If we live behaviours from our parents and caretakers. If we live in an extended family then there are more people to in an extended family then there are more people to learn and take in from. When we do this, it is called learn and take in from. When we do this, it is called introjecting and it is just as if we take in the whole of introjecting and it is just as if we take in the whole of the care giver. the care giver.

The The Nurturing ParentNurturing Parent is caring and concerned and is caring and concerned and often may appear as a mother-figure (though men can often may appear as a mother-figure (though men can play it too). They seek to keep the Child contented, play it too). They seek to keep the Child contented, offering a safe haven and unconditional love to calm offering a safe haven and unconditional love to calm the Child's troubles.the Child's troubles.

The The Critical ParentCritical Parent,, on the other hand, tries to make on the other hand, tries to make the Child do as the parent wants them to do, perhaps the Child do as the parent wants them to do, perhaps transferring values or beliefs or helping the Child to transferring values or beliefs or helping the Child to understand and live in society. They may also have understand and live in society. They may also have negative intent, using the Child as a whipping-boy or negative intent, using the Child as a whipping-boy or worse.worse.

Adult Ego StateAdult Ego State The Adult ego state is about direct responses The Adult ego state is about direct responses

to the here and now. We deal with things that to the here and now. We deal with things that are going on today in ways that are not are going on today in ways that are not unhealthily influenced by our past. unhealthily influenced by our past.

the Adult in us is the 'grown up' rational the Adult in us is the 'grown up' rational person who talks reasonably and assertively, person who talks reasonably and assertively, neither trying to control nor reacting neither trying to control nor reacting aggressively towards others. The Adult is aggressively towards others. The Adult is comfortable with themself and is, for many of comfortable with themself and is, for many of us, our us, our 'ideal self'.'ideal self'.

Child Ego StateChild Ego State The The Natural ChildNatural Child is largely un-self-aware and is is largely un-self-aware and is

characterized by the non-speech noises they make characterized by the non-speech noises they make (yahoo, whee, etc.). They like playing and are open (yahoo, whee, etc.). They like playing and are open and vulnerable.and vulnerable.

The cutely-named The cutely-named Little ProfessorLittle Professor is the curious and is the curious and exploring Child who is always trying out new stuff exploring Child who is always trying out new stuff (often much to their Controlling Parent's annoyance). (often much to their Controlling Parent's annoyance). Together with the Natural Child they make up the Together with the Natural Child they make up the Free Child.Free Child.

The The Adaptive ChildAdaptive Child reacts to the world around them, reacts to the world around them, either changing themselves to fit in or rebelling either changing themselves to fit in or rebelling against the forces they feel.against the forces they feel.

Rational communication is Rational communication is Adult to AdultAdult to Adult