ANALYSIS OF HOW PEOPLE BEHAVE/ REACT

DURING HUMAN INTERACTION

Transactional Analysis

• A model for explaining why and how:– People think like they do– People act like they do– People interact/communicate with others

• Based on published ‘psychological’ work such as:– Games People Play (Dr. Eric Berne)– I’m OK - - You’re OK (Dr. Tom Harris)– Born to Win (Dr. Dorothy Jongeward)

Our Brain (according to Berne)

• Determines what we think and how we act• Acts like a tape recorder while recording

1) Events2) Associated feelings

• Has 3 distinct parts or ego states1) Parent2) Adult3) Child

EGO STATES

PARENT

ADULT

CHILD

TRANSACTIONSSTIMULOUS RESPONSE

Parent Ego State

• Thoughts, feelings, attitudes, behavioral patterns based on messages or lessons learned from parents and other ‘parental’ or authoritarian sources

• Shoulds and should nots; oughts and ought nots; always and never

• Prejudicial views (not based on logic or facts) on things such as:

religion dress salespeopletraditions work productsmoney raising children companies

• Nurturing views (sympathetic, caring views)• Critical views (fault finding, judgmental, condescending views)

Adult Ego State

• Thoughts, feelings, attitudes, behavioral patterns based on objective analysis of information (data, facts)

• Make decisions based on logic, computations, probabilities, etc. (not emotion)

Child Ego State

• Thoughts, feelings, attitudes, behavioral patterns based on child-like emotions, impulses, feelings we have experienced

• Child-like examples

ImpulsiveSelf-centeredAngryFearful

HappyPleasure seekingRebelliousHappy

CuriousEager to please

Ego Portraits

• People have favorite, preferred ego state, depicted by larger circle in a diagramParent Adult Child

P

A

C

P

A

C

P

A

C

PARENT EGO

CONTROLLING PARENT

NURTURING PARENT

CHILD EGO

NATURAL CHILD

ADAPTED CHILD

COMPLIANCE

PROCASTINATIO

N

REBELLION

LITTLE PROFES

SOR (INTUITI

ON)

ADAPTATION

STROKES IN TA

APPRECIATIONS POSITIVE

ADMONISIONS NEGATIVE

Human Interaction Analysis

• A transaction = any interaction or communication between 2 people

• People send and receive messages out of and into their different ego states

• How people say something (what others hear?) just as important as what is said

• Types of communication, interactions1) Complementary2) Crossed3) Ulterior

TRANSACTIONS

PAC C

AP

COMPLEMENTARY

Complementary ‘Transactions’

• Interactions, responses, actions regarded as appropriate and expected from another person.

• Parallel communication arrows, communication continues.Example 1: #1 What time do you have?

#2 I’ve got 11:15.

P

A

C

P

A

C

Complementary ‘Transactions’ cont’d

Example 2:

P

A

C

P

A

C

#1 You’re late again!

#2 I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.

TRANSACTIONS

PAC C

AP

CROSSED

CROSSED ‘TRANSACTIONS’• Interactions, responses, actions NOT regarded as appropriate

or expected from another person.• Crossed communication arrows, communication breakdown.

P

A

C

P

A

C

Example 1

#1 What time do you have?

#2 There’s a clock on the wall, why don’t you

figure it out yourself?

Crossed ‘Transactions’ cont’d

Example 2 #1 You’re late again!#2 Yeah, I know, I had a flat tire.

P

A

C

P

A

C

TRANSACTIONS

PAC C

AP

ULTERIOR

MESSAGES WITH

DOUBLE/ HIDDEN

MEANINGS

Intonations: It’s the Way You Say It!

Placement of the emphasis

Why don’t I take you to dinner tonight?Why don’t I take you to dinner tonight?Why don’t I take you to dinner tonight?

Why don’t I take you to dinner tonight?Why don’t I take you to dinner tonight?Why don’t I take you to dinner tonight?Why don’t I take you to dinner tonight?

What it means

I was going to take someone else.Instead of the guy you were going with.I’m trying to find a reason why I shouldn’t

take you.

Do you have a problem with me?Instead of going on your own.Instead of lunch tomorrow.Not tomorrow night.