Transactional Analysis
Transactional Analysis
Transactional Analysis (TA) offers a conceptual frame for thinking about self and the interactions a person has both internally with them self and externally with others. These interaction are called Transactions hence the name Transactional Analysis.
TA was originally developed by Dr Eric Berne in the 1950s. He wanted a model that was relatively easy to understand and to teach but would also be able to convey the complexity of human development and relationships.
TA is underpinned by three main philosophical assumptions:
Everyone is OK; Everyone has worth, value and dignity. Your value as a human being is not doubted. We are equals as people regardless of accomplishment, age, sex, religion, race, or any of the other ways we choose define our self.
Everyone can think; Everyone, except those with severe organic brain damage, can think. It is therefore the responsibility of each individual to decide what they want from life. Ultimately it is the individual that must live with the consequences of their decisions.
We decide our fate and we can change our decisions; When we engage in behaviour that is not-OK it is likely we are using strategies we decided upon as young children. These were the best ways to get our needs met in a world that could seem very hostile and threatening.as grown-ups we might still rely on these strategies even though the outcome is painful and unproductive.
Using TA we can trace these early decisions and change them for new more effective, appropriate decisions. Thus all people can change. Change cannot happen through insight alone though. We change by actively deciding to change the old strategies and deciding what new behaviours to utilise. The changes we decide to make can be real and lasting if we choose.
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