# [[đź“šScripts People Live - Transactional Analysis of Life Scripts by Claude Steiner]]
#### [Scripts People Live - Transactional Analysis of Life Scripts by Claude Steiner Page 64](x-devonthink-item://572E0A44-8283-4AD2-800F-070093E72233?page=63)
feelings of unworthiness might lead to dismissing the praise with thoughts like "They're just being nice." On the other hand, a person with a more positive self-view might genuinely accept the compliment, reinforcing their positive self-perception. These examples illustrate how deeply ingrained our core life positions are and how they color our reactions and interactions.
==Change is inevitable, and our perceptions, including those about ourselves and others, are subject to flux. Yet, the core life position we adopt early on tends to dominate our outlook and reactions. This position, often solidified in childhood, serves as a psychological anchor, providing a sense of stability and predictability. Even if this core belief is negative, it offers a familiar frame of reference that can be comforting in its consistency.==
==For instance, someone who adopts a "I'm not OK, you're not OK" position may consistently perceive interactions through a lens of mutual distrust and self-doubt, regardless of new experiences or positive feedback. Conversely, someone with an "I'm OK, you're OK" stance is likely to approach life with an inherent sense of worth and optimism about others, even when faced with challenges.==
==Our "surface" position, the day-to-day reactions to our environment, can vary more widely and is influenced by immediate circumstances and emotions. This surface position can reinforce or challenge our core position. For example, a series of positive interactions may temporarily boost the outlook of someone with a negative core position, but under stress, they are likely to revert to their ingrained perception.==
The interaction between these core and surface positions is complex. Over time, significant positive or negative experiences can cause a shift in our core position. However, this process is typically gradual and requires consistent reinforcement.
==Understanding this dynamic is crucial for personal growth. By recognizing the stability of our core positions and the variability of our surface reactions, we can work towards a more balanced and fulfilling life. It involves challenging the negative core beliefs that limit us and being open to the positive influences of our daily experiences.== This approach not only enhances our self-perception but also improves our interactions and relationships with others.
##### Change is inevitable, and our perceptions, including those about ourselves and others, are subject to flux. Yet, the core life position we adopt early on tends to dominate our outlook and reactions. This position, often solidified in childhood, serves as a psychological anchor, providing a sense of stability and predictability. Even if this core belief is negative, it offers a familiar frame of reference that can be comforting in its consistency.
##### For instance, someone who adopts a "I'm not OK, you're not OK" position may consistently perceive interactions through a lens of mutual distrust and self-doubt, regardless of new experiences or positive feedback. Conversely, someone with an "I'm OK, you're OK" stance is likely to approach life with an inherent sense of worth and optimism about others, even when faced with challenges.
##### Our "surface" position, the day-to-day reactions to our environment, can vary more widely and is influenced by immediate circumstances and emotions. This surface position can reinforce or challenge our core position. For example, a series of positive interactions may temporarily boost the outlook of someone with a negative core position, but under stress, they are likely to revert to their ingrained perception.
##### Understanding this dynamic is crucial for personal growth. By recognizing the stability of our core positions and the variability of our surface reactions, we can work towards a more balanced and fulfilling life. It involves challenging the negative core beliefs that limit us and being open to the positive influences of our daily experiences.
***
#### [Scripts People Live - Transactional Analysis of Life Scripts by Claude Steiner Page 66](x-devonthink-item://572E0A44-8283-4AD2-800F-070093E72233?page=65)
==When a person is in the Natural Child (C1) ego state, they are experiencing pure, uninhibited emotions and behavior. This state is characterized by spontaneity, creativity, and genuine feelings. However, societal norms often suppress the Natural Child, so few people operate entirely at this level. In extreme cases, a sudden takeover by the Natural Child after prolonged suppression by the Parent (P2) can lead to what appears as an acute "psychotic" state.==
==Distinguishing between the Parent (P2) and the Parent in the Child (P1 in C2) is crucial. P1 in C2 represents a child imitating parental behavior, seeking validation, and reassurance ("How am I doing, Mommy?"), while P2 embodies the actual parental role.== For example, in a thirty-five-year-old named Mary, the behavior of P1 in C2 might involve a little girl acting like a mother, wagging a finger and using words like "ought" and "should," but with an underlying need for approval.
==The distinction between the Parent (P2) and the Pig Parent (P1 in C2), or the Adapted Child, lies in their impact and quality. Both are Parent ego states derived from others and share nurturing and protective aspects. However, the Parent (P2), also known as the Nurturing Parent, genuinely nurtures and protects with potency and effectiveness. In contrast, the Pig Parent fails to provide true nurturance or protection and lacks the same positive influence in human relationships.==
##### When a person is in the Natural Child (C1) ego state, they are experiencing pure, uninhibited emotions and behavior. This state is characterized by spontaneity, creativity, and genuine feelings. However, societal norms often suppress the Natural Child, so few people operate entirely at this level. In extreme cases, a sudden takeover by the Natural Child after prolonged suppression by the Parent (P2) can lead to what appears as an acute "psychotic" state.
##### Distinguishing between the Parent (P2) and the Parent in the Child (P1 in C2) is crucial. P1 in C2 represents a child imitating parental behavior, seeking validation, and reassurance ("How am I doing, Mommy?"), while P2 embodies the actual parental role.
##### The distinction between the Parent (P2) and the Pig Parent (P1 in C2), or the Adapted Child, lies in their impact and quality. Both are Parent ego states derived from others and share nurturing and protective aspects. However, the Parent (P2), also known as the Nurturing Parent, genuinely nurtures and protects with potency and effectiveness. In contrast, the Pig Parent fails to provide true nurturance or protection and lacks the same positive influence in human relationships.
***
#### [Scripts People Live - Transactional Analysis of Life Scripts by Claude Steiner Page 64](x-devonthink-item://572E0A44-8283-4AD2-800F-070093E72233?page=63)
==To understand second-order structural analysis, or the analysis of the structure of the Child, let's examine a five-year-old child, Mary (Figure 2A). Mary operates in three ego states: Parent (P1), Adult (A1), and Child (C1). In her Parent ego state, she mimics her mother's behavior by scolding or cuddling her younger brother. In her Adult ego state, known as the Little Professor, she asks probing questions like, "What is sex, Daddy?" or "What is blood for?" In her Child ego state, she reverts to behaviors typical of a two-year-old, such as speaking in baby talk, throwing tantrums, or rolling on the floor.==
==Thirty years later, Mary (Figure 2B) still exhibits these three ego states. In her Parent ego state (P2), she cares for her husband or nurses her newborn baby. In her Adult ego state (A2), she performs adult tasks like cooking, performing an appendectomy, and making accurate predictions about events and people. Her Child ego state (C2) remains the same as the five-year-old Mary.==
The predominant mode of Mary's Child ego state determines her personality as perceived by others. If her Child (C2) is primarily P1, her behavior will reflect the script imposed by her parents when she was five years old. This Child ego state, P1 in C2, is known as the Adapted Child because it conforms to parental demands. In individuals with self-destructive scripts, this ego state is referred to as the "electrode" due to its powerful control over their mental life and behavior. It is also called the "witch" or "ogre" because it seems to possess supernatural qualities, similar to those in fairy tales.
==Additionally, P1 in C2 is termed the Pig Parent because it makes people feel not okay and its function is to maintain these negative feelings, reinforcing the individual's adherence to the destructive script.==
##### To understand second-order structural analysis, or the analysis of the structure of the Child, let's examine a five-year-old child, Mary (Figure 2A). Mary operates in three ego states: Parent (P1), Adult (A1), and Child (C1). In her Parent ego state, she mimics her mother's behavior by scolding or cuddling her younger brother. In her Adult ego state, known as the Little Professor, she asks probing questions like, "What is sex, Daddy?" or "What is blood for?" In her Child ego state, she reverts to behaviors typical of a two-year-old, such as speaking in baby talk, throwing tantrums, or rolling on the floor.
##### Thirty years later, Mary (Figure 2B) still exhibits these three ego states. In her Parent ego state (P2), she cares for her husband or nurses her newborn baby. In her Adult ego state (A2), she performs adult tasks like cooking, performing an appendectomy, and making accurate predictions about events and people. Her Child ego state (C2) remains the same as the five-year-old Mary.
##### Additionally, P1 in C2 is termed the Pig Parent because it makes people feel not okay and its function is to maintain these negative feelings, reinforcing the individual's adherence to the destructive script.
***
#### [Scripts People Live - Transactional Analysis of Life Scripts by Claude Steiner Page 64](x-devonthink-item://572E0A44-8283-4AD2-800F-070093E72233?page=63)
==To understand second-order structural analysis, or the analysis of the structure of the Child, let's examine a five-year-old child, Mary (Figure 2A). Mary operates in three ego states: Parent (P1), Adult (A1), and Child (C1). In her Parent ego state, she mimics her mother's behavior by scolding or cuddling her younger brother. In her Adult ego state, known as the Little Professor, she asks probing questions like, "What is sex, Daddy?" or "What is blood for?" In her Child ego state, she reverts to behaviors typical of a two-year-old, such as speaking in baby talk, throwing tantrums, or rolling on the floor.==
==Thirty years later, Mary (Figure 2B) still exhibits these three ego states. In her Parent ego state (P2), she cares for her husband or nurses her newborn baby. In her Adult ego state (A2), she performs adult tasks like cooking, performing an appendectomy, and making accurate predictions about events and people. Her Child ego state (C2) remains the same as the five-year-old Mary.==
==The predominant mode of Mary's Child ego state determines her personality as perceived by others. If her Child (C2) is primarily P1, her behavior will reflect the script imposed by her parents when she was five years old. This Child ego state, P1 in C2, is known as the Adapted Child because it conforms to parental demands. In individuals with self-destructive scripts, this ego state is referred to as the "electrode" due to its powerful control over their mental life and behavior. It is also called the "witch" or "ogre" because it seems to possess supernatural qualities, similar to those in fairy tales.==
==Additionally, P1 in C2 is termed the Pig Parent because it makes people feel not okay and its function is to maintain these negative feelings, reinforcing the individual's adherence to the destructive script.==
##### To understand second-order structural analysis, or the analysis of the structure of the Child, let's examine a five-year-old child, Mary (Figure 2A). Mary operates in three ego states: Parent (P1), Adult (A1), and Child (C1). In her Parent ego state, she mimics her mother's behavior by scolding or cuddling her younger brother. In her Adult ego state, known as the Little Professor, she asks probing questions like, "What is sex, Daddy?" or "What is blood for?" In her Child ego state, she reverts to behaviors typical of a two-year-old, such as speaking in baby talk, throwing tantrums, or rolling on the floor.
##### Thirty years later, Mary (Figure 2B) still exhibits these three ego states. In her Parent ego state (P2), she cares for her husband or nurses her newborn baby. In her Adult ego state (A2), she performs adult tasks like cooking, performing an appendectomy, and making accurate predictions about events and people. Her Child ego state (C2) remains the same as the five-year-old Mary.
##### The predominant mode of Mary's Child ego state determines her personality as perceived by others. If her Child (C2) is primarily P1, her behavior will reflect the script imposed by her parents when she was five years old. This Child ego state, P1 in C2, is known as the Adapted Child because it conforms to parental demands. In individuals with self-destructive scripts, this ego state is referred to as the "electrode" due to its powerful control over their mental life and behavior. It is also called the "witch" or "ogre" because it seems to possess supernatural qualities, similar to those in fairy tales.
##### Additionally, P1 in C2 is termed the Pig Parent because it makes people feel not okay and its function is to maintain these negative feelings, reinforcing the individual's adherence to the destructive script.
***
#### [Scripts People Live - Transactional Analysis of Life Scripts by Claude Steiner Page 66](x-devonthink-item://572E0A44-8283-4AD2-800F-070093E72233?page=65)
In his studies on intuition, he guessed people's occupations by using his own intuition (see p. 11). When in the Natural Child ego state (C1), the individual is "turned on" or in a "peak experience." Some people’s Child is exclusively the Natural Child, but societal restrictions against this behavior are strong, so very few people’s Child operates at that level. The acute "psychotic" state, in which a confused Natural Child takes over completely, is essentially the breakthrough of the Natural Child after a period of domination by the Parent.
==It is important to distinguish, in thirty-five-year-old Mary, between the Parent (P2) and the Parent in the Child (P1 in C2). Both ego states are superficially similar because they involve parental behaviors, such as finger-wagging and using words like "ought" and "should." However, there are important differences. P1 in C2 is a little girl acting like a mother while P2 is an actual mother. P1 in C2 wants to imitate the mother and seeks reassurance from the parents ("How am I doing, Mommy?").==
==The difference between the Parent (P2) and the Pig Parent, bad witch, ogre, electrode, or Adapted Child (P1 in C2) needs to be closely examined. Superficially, they are similar because they are both Parent ego states and share qualities taken whole from others. Both have nurturing and protective qualities. However, the fundamental difference between them is their potency, value in human relationships, and, for lack of a better word, their goodness. The Parent (P2) is also called the Nurturing Parent. Its function is to nurture and protect, and it is both convincing and potent in these functions, while the Pig Parent is neither truly nurturing nor protective.==
##### The difference between the Parent (P2) and the Pig Parent, bad witch, ogre, electrode, or Adapted Child (P1 in C2) needs to be closely examined. Superficially, they are similar because they are both Parent ego states and share qualities taken whole from others. Both have nurturing and protective qualities. However, the fundamental difference between them is their potency, value in human relationships, and, for lack of a better word, their goodness. The Parent (P2) is also called the Nurturing Parent. Its function is to nurture and protect, and it is both convincing and potent in these functions, while the Pig Parent is neither truly nurturing nor protective.
##### It is important to distinguish, in thirty-five-year-old Mary, between the Parent (P2) and the Parent in the Child (P1 in C2). Both ego states are superficially similar because they involve parental behaviors, such as finger-wagging and using words like "ought" and "should." However, there are important differences. P1 in C2 is a little girl acting like a mother while P2 is an actual mother. P1 in C2 wants to imitate the mother and seeks reassurance from the parents ("How am I doing, Mommy?").
***
#### [Scripts People Live - Transactional Analysis of Life Scripts by Claude Steiner Page 68](x-devonthink-item://572E0A44-8283-4AD2-800F-070093E72233?page=67)
==Some people spend a lot of time in the Nurturing Parent ego state, acting as Peace Officers who are protective and nurturing. These individuals are respected and appreciated by the people they serve. Others, however, operate from their Pig Parent, "protecting" people from things that do not harm them or even from things that are good for them. This "protection" is oppressive, often based on bribes, and these individuals are angry and scared, causing people to fear and hate them, which keeps them in a cycle of fear and anger.==
Policemen who have to uphold oppressive laws or find themselves in tough situations are more likely to lapse into the Pig Parent. Their behavior greatly depends on their working conditions. ==The difference between the Pig Parent and the Nurturing Parent is especially clear in the case of policemen. A person in their Pig Parent is neither convincing nor potent, except over someone they have power over.== For example, Holy Hubert, a fundamentalist street preacher in Berkeley, is not impressive while powerless, but if he had power, he would be frightening, as many Pig Parent-dominated individuals throughout history have been.
Many men and a few women have had such power and caused untold miseries. ==Without power, they would have been small, frightened, and crazed by their Pig Parents, always well-meaning and convinced that they were nurturing and protective. Power makes the Pig Parent dangerous, oppressive, and destructive. Stripped of power, these evil individuals can be seen as okay, though angry or scared.==
==To summarize, the Pig Parent is a scared or angry Child ego state that attempts to protect or nurture but fails. The Nurturing Parent is confident, loving, and competent in these functions. The Parent in the Child (P1 in C2) is a fixated ego state, not amenable to change or worth changing. Unlike the Parent (P2), which changes over time, P1 in C2 is best dealt with by decommissioning it.== In therapy, this implies that P1 in C2 is to be managed rather than transformed.
##### Some people spend a lot of time in the Nurturing Parent ego state, acting as Peace Officers who are protective and nurturing. These individuals are respected and appreciated by the people they serve. Others, however, operate from their Pig Parent, "protecting" people from things that do not harm them or even from things that are good for them. This "protection" is oppressive, often based on bribes, and these individuals are angry and scared, causing people to fear and hate them, which keeps them in a cycle of fear and anger.
##### The difference between the Pig Parent and the Nurturing Parent is especially clear in the case of policemen. A person in their Pig Parent is neither convincing nor potent, except over someone they have power over.
##### Without power, they would have been small, frightened, and crazed by their Pig Parents, always well-meaning and convinced that they were nurturing and protective. Power makes the Pig Parent dangerous, oppressive, and destructive. Stripped of power, these evil individuals can be seen as okay, though angry or scared.
##### To summarize, the Pig Parent is a scared or angry Child ego state that attempts to protect or nurture but fails. The Nurturing Parent is confident, loving, and competent in these functions. The Parent in the Child (P1 in C2) is a fixated ego state, not amenable to change or worth changing. Unlike the Parent (P2), which changes over time, P1 in C2 is best dealt with by decommissioning it.
***
#### [Scripts People Live - Transactional Analysis of Life Scripts by Claude Steiner Page 50](x-devonthink-item://572E0A44-8283-4AD2-800F-070093E72233?page=49)
==The Child ego state includes behaviors such as smiling, laughing expansively, or crying. In addition to being typical in children, the Child ego state can be observed in adults under stress, experiencing great pain or joy, or in professions requiring childlike behavior, such as comedians or actors. The Child ego state is significant because it is the source of spontaneity, sexuality, creative change, and joy, making it the best part of a person for genuine enjoyment.==
==The Adult ego state functions like a computer, gathering and processing data, making logical predictions, and observing reality without emotional involvement. It perceives information in a detached, diagrammatic manner, often in black and white and from multiple perspectives simultaneously. This detachment is crucial for accurately observing and predicting external reality. Unlike the emotional Child and Parent ego states, the Adult operates purely rationally and without emotion, even though it can assess feelings from the Child or Parent states.== The Adult's impassionate nature distinguishes it from a calm but emotional Parent state.
##### The Child ego state includes behaviors such as smiling, laughing expansively, or crying. In addition to being typical in children, the Child ego state can be observed in adults under stress, experiencing great pain or joy, or in professions requiring childlike behavior, such as comedians or actors. The Child ego state is significant because it is the source of spontaneity, sexuality, creative change, and joy, making it the best part of a person for genuine enjoyment.
##### The Adult ego state functions like a computer, gathering and processing data, making logical predictions, and observing reality without emotional involvement. It perceives information in a detached, diagrammatic manner, often in black and white and from multiple perspectives simultaneously. This detachment is crucial for accurately observing and predicting external reality. Unlike the emotional Child and Parent ego states, the Adult operates purely rationally and without emotion, even though it can assess feelings from the Child or Parent states.
***
#### [Scripts People Live - Transactional Analysis of Life Scripts by Claude Steiner Page 54](x-devonthink-item://572E0A44-8283-4AD2-800F-070093E72233?page=53)
an individual's natural spontaneity and creativity are suppressed. ==Instead of developing a healthy Child ego state that is free to explore, create, and enjoy, the person internalizes the oppressive attitudes of their caregivers, resulting in a Child ego state that is overly adapted to the Pig Parent's demands. This can lead to a lack of genuine joy and spontaneity in life, as the person's actions are heavily influenced by the internalized negative judgments and prohibitions of their Pig Parent.==
==To function adaptively in different situations, a healthy balance among the three ego states—Parent, Adult, and Child—is necessary.== Each ego state has its strengths and is suited to specific demands of reality:
- **Parent Ego State**: Ideal for situations requiring control, guidance, and nurturing, such as raising children or managing fears.
- **Adult Ego State**: Best suited for tasks that require accurate data gathering, logical analysis, and prediction, such as solving problems or making decisions based on facts.
- **Child Ego State**: Essential for creativity, play, and enjoying life, such as generating new ideas, engaging in recreational activities, and procreating.
In social interactions like parties, the Child ego state is more appropriate as it allows for fun and enjoyment, whereas the Adult ego state, focused on dispassionate analysis, would hinder the purpose of the event. Similarly, in parenting, a balanced approach that includes the nurturing and protective aspects of the Parent ego state, rather than the overly rational Adult response, is more effective in meeting a child's emotional and developmental needs.
==An excessive reliance on any single ego state can lead to maladaptive behaviors. For instance, an overly excluding Adult can hinder enjoyable social interactions and proper child-rearing, while extreme permeability, where a person cannot maintain the Adult ego state long enough, can result in an inability to handle situations requiring logical analysis and prediction. The goal is to foster a flexible and adaptive use of all three ego states, allowing individuals to respond effectively to various demands and situations in life.==
##### Instead of developing a healthy Child ego state that is free to explore, create, and enjoy, the person internalizes the oppressive attitudes of their caregivers, resulting in a Child ego state that is overly adapted to the Pig Parent's demands. This can lead to a lack of genuine joy and spontaneity in life, as the person's actions are heavily influenced by the internalized negative judgments and prohibitions of their Pig Parent.
##### To function adaptively in different situations, a healthy balance among the three ego states—Parent, Adult, and Child—is necessary.
##### Parent Ego State: Ideal for situations requiring control, guidance, and nurturing, such as raising children or managing fears.
Adult Ego State: Best suited for tasks that require accurate data gathering, logical analysis, and prediction, such as solving problems or making decisions based on facts.
Child Ego State: Essential for creativity, play, and enjoying life, such as generating new ideas, engaging in recreational activities, and procreating.
##### An excessive reliance on any single ego state can lead to maladaptive behaviors. For instance, an overly excluding Adult can hinder enjoyable social interactions and proper child-rearing, while extreme permeability, where a person cannot maintain the Adult ego state long enough, can result in an inability to handle situations requiring logical analysis and prediction. The goal is to foster a flexible and adaptive use of all three ego states, allowing individuals to respond effectively to various demands and situations in life.
***
#### [Scripts People Live - Transactional Analysis of Life Scripts by Claude Steiner Page 51](x-devonthink-item://572E0A44-8283-4AD2-800F-070093E72233?page=50)
==According to Piaget’s detailed discussion of “formal operations,” the Adult grows gradually during childhood as a result of the interaction between the person and the external world.==
### THE PARENT
==The Parent ego state is composed of behaviors copied from parents or authority figures. It is taken whole, without modification. When in the Parent ego state, a person acts as a playback of a videotape recording of their parents or authority figures. The Parent ego state is essentially nonperceptive and noncognitive. It serves as a constant and sometimes arbitrary basis for decisions, being the repository of traditions and values. This is crucial for the survival of children and civilizations, especially when adequate information for an Adult decision is not available. However, in some people, the Parent operates despite adequate Adult information.==
==The Parent ego state, while derived from others, is not entirely fixed. It can change over time as a person’s experiences add to or subtract from their repertoire of Parent behaviors. For example, raising a first-born child can significantly expand a person’s range of Parent responses. The Parent ego state evolves throughout life, from adolescence to old age, as individuals encounter new situations requiring parental behavior and adopt examples from new authority figures or admired persons. It is possible for people to learn nurturing Parent behavior and discard oppressive aspects of the Parent.==
Some Parent behaviors are genetically built into people, such as the tendency to nurture and protect one's young. However, most human Parent behavior is learned, built upon these two innate tendencies.
### VOICES IN THE HEAD
==The concept of the Parent ego state includes the internalized voices of authority figures from one’s past. These voices guide behavior and decision-making processes, often reflecting the attitudes and values of those authority figures. The internalized Parent can be nurturing and protective or critical and oppressive, depending on the nature of the behaviors and attitudes that have been adopted.==
##### According to Piaget’s detailed discussion of “formal operations,” the Adult grows gradually during childhood as a result of the interaction between the person and the external world.
##### The Parent ego state is composed of behaviors copied from parents or authority figures. It is taken whole, without modification. When in the Parent ego state, a person acts as a playback of a videotape recording of their parents or authority figures. The Parent ego state is essentially nonperceptive and noncognitive. It serves as a constant and sometimes arbitrary basis for decisions, being the repository of traditions and values. This is crucial for the survival of children and civilizations, especially when adequate information for an Adult decision is not available. However, in some people, the Parent operates despite adequate Adult information.
##### The Parent ego state, while derived from others, is not entirely fixed. It can change over time as a person’s experiences add to or subtract from their repertoire of Parent behaviors. For example, raising a first-born child can significantly expand a person’s range of Parent responses. The Parent ego state evolves throughout life, from adolescence to old age, as individuals encounter new situations requiring parental behavior and adopt examples from new authority figures or admired persons. It is possible for people to learn nurturing Parent behavior and discard oppressive aspects of the Parent.
##### The concept of the Parent ego state includes the internalized voices of authority figures from one’s past. These voices guide behavior and decision-making processes, often reflecting the attitudes and values of those authority figures. The internalized Parent can be nurturing and protective or critical and oppressive, depending on the nature of the behaviors and attitudes that have been adopted.
***
#### [Scripts People Live - Transactional Analysis of Life Scripts by Claude Steiner Page 55](x-devonthink-item://572E0A44-8283-4AD2-800F-070093E72233?page=54)
==Parents coerce their children into submission, giving them no choices of their own. Another important concept is contamination, which occurs when the Adult ego state accepts as fact certain ideas originating from the Parent or Child ego states. For example, a Parental idea like "masturbation leads to insanity" or "women are passive creatures" could be part of a person’s Adult ego state. Alternatively, the Adult might be contaminated by a Child idea such as "grownups can’t be trusted."==
==Decontamination of the Adult is an early therapeutic goal. It can be achieved by a timely confrontation from the therapist's Adult, addressing the inaccuracies of the contaminated ideas. A successful technique for decontaminating ego states involves having the person alternately speak for each of their ego states.== This method, originated in psychodrama and later adapted by Gestalt therapy, effectively demonstrates the reality of ego states.
==For instance, a person feeling guilty about masturbation could be asked to speak from their Parent about the evils of masturbation, from their Child about the guilt and fears of insanity due to masturbation, and from their Adult about the well-known fact that masturbation is harmless and normal.== Verbalizing these different perspectives helps separate the ego states, facilitating the decontamination of the Adult.
### Transactional Analysis
Just as the ego state is the unit of structural analysis, the transaction is the unit of transactional analysis. The theory holds that a person’s behavior is best understood when examined in terms of ego states, and that behavior between two or more persons is best understood when examined in terms of transactions. A transaction consists of a stimulus and a response between two specific ego states.
In a simple transaction, only two ego states are involved. One example is a transaction between two Adult ego states:
- "How much is five times seven?"
- "Thirty-five."
All other combinations of ego states may occur in a transaction, leading to nine possible combinations.
##### Parents coerce their children into submission, giving them no choices of their own. Another important concept is contamination, which occurs when the Adult ego state accepts as fact certain ideas originating from the Parent or Child ego states. For example, a Parental idea like "masturbation leads to insanity" or "women are passive creatures" could be part of a person’s Adult ego state. Alternatively, the Adult might be contaminated by a Child idea such as "grownups can’t be trusted."
##### Decontamination of the Adult is an early therapeutic goal. It can be achieved by a timely confrontation from the therapist's Adult, addressing the inaccuracies of the contaminated ideas. A successful technique for decontaminating ego states involves having the person alternately speak for each of their ego states.
##### For instance, a person feeling guilty about masturbation could be asked to speak from their Parent about the evils of masturbation, from their Child about the guilt and fears of insanity due to masturbation, and from their Adult about the well-known fact that masturbation is harmless and normal.
***
#### [Scripts People Live - Transactional Analysis of Life Scripts by Claude Steiner Page 33](x-devonthink-item://572E0A44-8283-4AD2-800F-070093E72233?page=32)
Berne continued to use ego images during therapy sessions and found that understanding a person's feelings and experiences based on these images was more effective than traditional psychiatric diagnosis. He identified childhood ego images in every patient, such as "a little blond girl standing in a fenced garden full of daisies" or "a boy scared riding in the passenger seat of a car while his angry father drives at top speed." ==These images led him to define ego states, recognizing that the Child ego state was distinct from the "grownup" ego state presented to the world.==
==Berne further divided the "grownup" ego state into two: the rational Adult and the non-rational Parent, which seemed to be copied from the person’s parents.== He also discovered the importance of strokes (units of recognition), time structuring, transactions, games, pastimes, and scripts. By the end of the 1960s, his theory was almost fully developed, and he eventually abandoned traditional psychiatric diagnoses.
Berne often joked about the limitations of psychiatric diagnoses, stating that someone with less initiative than the therapist is labeled passive-dependent, while someone with more initiative is called a sociopath. Over time, his theoretical ties with psychoanalysis became less significant, especially in his group work. Initially, Berne believed transactional analysis was useful for achieving "social control," or managing "acting out" behavior.
##### Berne further divided the "grownup" ego state into two: the rational Adult and the non-rational Parent, which seemed to be copied from the person’s parents.
##### These images led him to define ego states, recognizing that the Child ego state was distinct from the "grownup" ego state presented to the world.
***
#### [Scripts People Live - Transactional Analysis of Life Scripts by Claude Steiner Page 138](x-devonthink-item://572E0A44-8283-4AD2-800F-070093E72233?page=137)
==In oppressive societies, people, especially men, are often conditioned to suppress their bodily feelings and function as "performing machines." Marcuse and Wilhelm Reich suggest that societal norms desexualize natural impulses to align with specific social structures. Similarly, the manipulation of the stroke economy—our human capacity, propensity, and right to freely exchange strokes (units of recognition and validation)—is controlled to rear individuals who conform to societal expectations, rather than what is best for them.==
==This control, often unrecognized as serving an established order, prevents individuals from evaluating how the regulation of the stroke economy benefits or harms them. To illustrate, imagine that every person is born with a mask regulating their air supply. Initially, the mask allows free breathing, but as the child grows and performs desired actions, the mask gradually restricts air flow, only opening when the child complies with adult demands. The child is prohibited from controlling their air valve; only specific people can adjust it. This scenario would make individuals highly responsive to those controlling their air supply, ensuring compliance even if the mask could be easily removed.==
##### In oppressive societies, people, especially men, are often conditioned to suppress their bodily feelings and function as "performing machines." Marcuse and Wilhelm Reich suggest that societal norms desexualize natural impulses to align with specific social structures. Similarly, the manipulation of the stroke economy—our human capacity, propensity, and right to freely exchange strokes (units of recognition and validation)—is controlled to rear individuals who conform to societal expectations, rather than what is best for them.
##### This control, often unrecognized as serving an established order, prevents individuals from evaluating how the regulation of the stroke economy benefits or harms them. To illustrate, imagine that every person is born with a mask regulating their air supply. Initially, the mask allows free breathing, but as the child grows and performs desired actions, the mask gradually restricts air flow, only opening when the child complies with adult demands. The child is prohibited from controlling their air valve; only specific people can adjust it. This scenario would make individuals highly responsive to those controlling their air supply, ensuring compliance even if the mask could be easily removed.
***
##### What is "stoke economy"
The stroke economy is a concept in Transactional Analysis (TA) that refers to the exchange of "strokes," which are units of recognition, validation, or attention that people give to each other. Strokes can be positive (praise, affection) or negative (criticism, punishment), and they fulfill a fundamental human need for acknowledgment and connection.
The idea is that from an early age, individuals learn to regulate their behavior based on the strokes they receive. In an oppressive social order, the free exchange of strokes is controlled to condition people to behave in ways that serve the interests of the established system rather than their own well-being. This control limits people's ability to freely give and receive strokes, which can lead to conformity and suppression of their true desires and emotions.
By understanding and examining the stroke economy, individuals can become more aware of how their behaviors and interactions are influenced by societal norms and expectations. This awareness can help them seek healthier, more fulfilling relationships and behaviors that align with their authentic selves rather than merely conforming to external demands.
***
##### What is stroke
In Transactional Analysis (TA), a "stroke" is a unit of recognition or attention that one person gives to another. Strokes can be positive, negative, conditional, or unconditional:
1. **Positive Strokes:** These are affirmations, compliments, or any form of positive recognition, such as praise, a smile, or a hug. They make the recipient feel valued and appreciated.
- Example: "You did a great job on that project!" or a pat on the back.
2. **Negative Strokes:** These are forms of recognition that are critical or disapproving, such as criticism, a frown, or a scolding. Although negative, they still acknowledge the person's existence.
- Example: "You messed up this report again."
3. **Conditional Strokes:** These are given based on certain conditions or behaviors. They can be either positive or negative.
- Example (Positive): "I'll give you a reward if you finish your homework."
- Example (Negative): "I will stop being angry if you apologize."
4. **Unconditional Strokes:** These are given without any conditions attached, simply for being who they are. They can also be positive or negative.
- Example (Positive): "I love you just the way you are."
- Example (Negative): "I don't like you."
Strokes are essential for emotional and psychological health because they fulfill a basic human need for acknowledgment and validation. Without sufficient positive strokes, people may feel neglected and unvalued, which can lead to various psychological issues. Understanding and managing the exchange of strokes is a key aspect of improving interpersonal relationships and personal well-being in TA.
#### [Scripts People Live - Transactional Analysis of Life Scripts by Claude Steiner Page 40](x-devonthink-item://572E0A44-8283-4AD2-800F-070093E72233?page=39)
His theory focused on interactions between people, including love. He was interested in relationships. He created the concept of "strokes," which he called the "unit of human recognition," but it really means the unit of human love. In his last years, he wrote "Sex in Human Loving" and "What Do You Say After You Say Hello?" to try to overcome his own personal limits. Sadly, our insights about strokes and scripts came too late to help him personally. From 1955-1965, Berne unintentionally discouraged us from studying strokes, intimacy, and scripts. ==He defined intimacy by what it was not: no withdrawal, no rituals, no games, no pastimes, and no work. He thought intimacy was rare, saying a person would be lucky to have 15 minutes of intimacy in their life.==
When the Carmel Transactional Analysis Seminar started using physical stroking techniques, Berne became alarmed. At a conference, he stated, "anyone who touches their patients is not doing transactional analysis." His rule against touching in groups was to prevent therapists from becoming sexually involved with their patients, which he believed would harm therapy and damage the reputation of transactional analysis. This rule was not meant to stop people from giving strokes, but it often did. He himself was not effective in this area.
##### He defined intimacy by what it was not: no withdrawal, no rituals, no games, no pastimes, and no work. He thought intimacy was rare, saying a person would be lucky to have 15 minutes of intimacy in their life.
***
#### [Scripts People Live - Transactional Analysis of Life Scripts by Claude Steiner Page 48](x-devonthink-item://572E0A44-8283-4AD2-800F-070093E72233?page=47)
Structural and Transactional Analysis
==Transactional Analysis (TA) has three observable forms of ego function: the Parent, the Adult, and the Child. They might seem similar to the superego, ego, and id in psychoanalysis, but they are different. The Parent, Adult, and Child are all parts of the ego, showing visible behavior rather than theoretical ideas. For example, when someone is in the Child state, you can see and hear them sing, skip, and laugh.== TA therapists focus on the ego and consciousness because these concepts better explain and predict social behavior.
Structural Analysis
==A person operates in one of three distinct ego states at any given time. You can diagnose these ego states by observing a person's appearance and behavior. The ego states are identified by body language and verbal expressions. Specific gestures, postures, facial expressions, and tones, as well as certain words, are linked to each ego state.==
Observers also use their own emotional reactions and thoughts as information for diagnosis. For example, if an observer feels parental, they might be seeing a Child ego state. If they feel inferior or rebellious, they might be observing a Parent ego state.
The most complete diagnosis of an ego state includes three sources of information:
1. The behavior of the person being observed.
2. The emotional reaction of the observer.
3. The content of verbal utterances.
##### Transactional Analysis (TA) has three observable forms of ego function: the Parent, the Adult, and the Child. They might seem similar to the superego, ego, and id in psychoanalysis, but they are different. The Parent, Adult, and Child are all parts of the ego, showing visible behavior rather than theoretical ideas. For example, when someone is in the Child state, you can see and hear them sing, skip, and laugh.
##### A person operates in one of three distinct ego states at any given time. You can diagnose these ego states by observing a person's appearance and behavior. The ego states are identified by body language and verbal expressions. Specific gestures, postures, facial expressions, and tones, as well as certain words, are linked to each ego state.
##### The most complete diagnosis of an ego state includes three sources of information:
The behavior of the person being observed.
The emotional reaction of the observer.
The content of verbal utterances.
The most complete diagnosis of an ego state includes three sources of information:
The behavior of the person being observed.
The emotional reaction of the observer.
The content of verbal utterances
***