Transactional Analysis Theory
Ego States
Parent --> Is a set of thoughts, feelings and behaviors that are learned or "borrowed" from our parents or other caretakers
Nurturing Parent --> Can be soft, loving and permission giving, it can also set limits in a healthy way
Critical/Prejudiced Parent --> Contains the prejudged thoughts
Adult--> Is the data processing center, it's the part of our personality that can process data accurately (that sees, hears, thinks) and can come up with solutions to problems based on the facts and not solely on our pre-judged thoughts of childlike emotions.
Child --> It's the seat of emotions, thoughts, and feeling state "memories" that we have of ourselves from childhood . It can be fun to take our child out, as it can be a problem when our child causes us to distort the facts in a current situation and prevents our Adult ego state from seeing things accurately :
Free Child Ego State (Natural Child) --> Playful, authentic, expressive, and emotional (experiences the world in a direct and immediate way), along with the Adult can be very creative. It is essential for having an intimate relationship.
Adapted Child Edo State/ Rebellious Child Ego State --> The part of our child that has learned to comply with the parental messages we received growing up (if we see this messages as restricting instead of complying with them we can rebel to them).
I better not get my clothes all dirty
WOW! Look how tall my castle is!!!
Go ahead, play and have fun!
Now, don't you DARE get yourself all messy!
This sand looks really interesting. I can make a castle.
Ana Paula Sanromán ICADE Business School March 30th, 2017
To tell what ego we or to others are suing, just pay attention to tone of voice, body posture, gestures, choice of words, and emotional state
Transactions --> They are about how people interact with each other, specifically, which ego state in me is talking to which ego state in you.
Understanding ego states can help you in your current life. We can use our knowledge of ego states in a social situation to maximize our chances of making new connections and make your communication with others be as clear as you would like it to be.
Change doesn't come quickly or easily; it takes practice.
Straight/complementary Transaction--> Communication can continue indefinitely
Crossed Transactions --> Communication tends to break down
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Strokes--> are a unit of human recognition from one person to another (can be a look, a nod, a smile, a spoken word, a touch). The kind of stroking patterns we develop tend to support our basic, existential life position, which reflects how we feel about ourselves in relation to others.
Conditional Strokes --> Given for what we do, what we accomplish (based on some condition).
Unconditional Strokes
Can be positive or negative, the last ones can cut down on spontaneity in the relationship and in the long run, it can limit pleasure, intimacy and creativity.
Can be positive or negative, the negative ones are more harmful than the negative conditional ones
Life Scripts --> An unconscious life plan based on decisions made in early childhood about ourselves, others and our lives which helped us adapt in the world of our childhood.
Until we discover what our early decisions were, we often repeat the patterns , we need to understand how they made sense at the time they were made
From the messages we get from the people surrounding us, we make decisions about ourselves and our lives that allow us to adapt as best we can to the particular situation in which we find ourselves.
Existential Positions --> Developed based on messages received and decisions made when we are children.
4 types
I'm OK, You're OK
I'm OK, You're Not OK
I'm Not OK, You're OK
I'm Not OK, You're Not OK