I remember “TA” from way back and always considered it to be a management tool. It was and still is used as material for communication and influencing training, but you may not be aware it’s it actually a counselling approach.
Developed back in the late 1950s by Eric Berne, this therapy is based on the theory that everyone has three ego states.
Ego-states refer to the three major parts of an individual’s personality, and they each reflect an entire system of thought, feeling and behaviour. The ego-states are:
- Parent – Rooted in the past, thoughts feelings and behaviours are learned from those in authority, normally parent or carers. This part of our personality can be nurturing or critical.
- Adult – This ego state is rooted in the present where responses are direct and relate very much to the here and now with no influence from our past. This tends to be the most rational and conscious part of our personality able to deal with day to day circumstances and events without significant influence.
- Child – Also rooted in the past, the child ego-state thoughts, feelings and behaviours are learned from our childhood rather than our parental influence. These can be free and natural or strongly adapted to parental influences.
It should be noted that the ego-states do not necessarily correspond with generally accepted definitions, for example, a child ego-state does not necessarily suggest an individual is acting like a child.
Ideally a transaction between two adult states is the easiest, both coming from a conscious knowledge and potentially shared understanding.
This ego-state model is primarily centered around how individuals communicate. By analysing communication styles, the transactional analyst works with the client to understand what changes are required for better outcomes. According to Berne, it’s not just about the words being said, attention must be paid to how the words are said and the body language used. Albert Mehrabian’s work proved the importance of non-verbal cues, demonstrating that the actual words said only make up 7% of what the listener focusses on!
Berne was also concerned that alternative theory lacked units of measure and therefore created a concept of a “stroke” being “the fundamental unit of social interaction”. Perhaps this is where the term stroking your ego comes from! He developed the theory that adults require physical contact, just as much as children but adults have learned to substitute other forms such as compliments, acceptance and recognition. He reasoned that the reinforcement we are motivated to seek and receive as a child is influential in how we lead our lives.
The ultimate goal of TA therapy is for the individual to reach their full potential by promoting personal growth and change, very much facilitated by improved self-awareness.
