Transaction Analysis – In a Nutshell

Transaction analysis is a theory presented by Eric Berne to help people to improve their interaction or communication which he calls transactions. It aims to improve the transactions by providing an insight into the personality structure of every individual which Berne has explained through his ‘Parent-Adult-Child’ model (PAC).

Each ego is defined in terms of distinctive features, which may develop over the period of one’s life. For example Child may it be Natural or Adapted is given to have an imaginative nature and hence is going to be creative and impressionable and hence the role of fantasy is very prominent in this ego.

Similarly, an Adult is the ego state which works on the principle of here and now, meaning is very practical in approach and aims to deal with things in logical and reasonable manner. Hence Adult believes he is omnipotent and that nothing is beyond his reasoning and reach. Parent ego state has this irresistible urge to control everything.

Some do it through love and care and other by setting strict rules and conditions. They feel responsible for everything and considered themselves immortal and others as mere mortals who need to be protected and guided at all times.

All these different characteristic traits help us to understand and decide what approach to use for fruitful interaction. Every individual’s Child and Parent is going to be different from other as Child develops according to the Childhood you had and Parent is the adopted traits of the authority figure.

For instance, one person is being a stubborn Child and other is Parent; it is going to be a complex or crossed transaction. For complementary and reciprocal transaction, the interaction should be between parallel states, like a Child should be reciprocated with a Child ego and an Adult with an Adult.

Although in cases of arguments and blocked communication it is advisable to change your ego state accordingly, like talking to a Parent in Adult state so that they may be able to see reason and change their stance on some rule.

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