Transactional analysis is a psychoanalysis theory developed by Eric Berne. The theory was developed in late 50s. In last few decades, the theory has evolved and has been used in psychotherapy, educational purposes, and in organizational development.
To develop a better understanding of transactional analysis, it is divided into five different theoretical and practical classes. Following is a brief description of these five classes:
- Strokes: This theoretical class of transactional analysis finds correlation in existing theories of intimacy, warmth, the desire of belonging, relationships, and attachment.
- OKness: This theoretical class correlates various existing theories about positive philosophy, positive psychology, optimism, and healing power of the mind.
- Scripts and Game: This class finds correlation in various existing theories about schemas, narratives, even memories, self-beliefs etc.
- Ego States and Transactions: It provides theoretical description of various ego states and the transactions between them.
- Transactional Analysis theory of change: the theories clustered in this class deals with the cognitive-behavioral theory aspects of transactional analysis.
Overview of life positions
Previously, we talked about various theoretical and practical aspects of transactional analysis. Life position is another basic unit of transactional analysis theory. The concept behind life position is an assumption that human mind chooses a basic disposition/ stance towards his self and other people at a very early age in life i.e. before age 2.
Life position provides a fundamental stance that we take about ourselves and other people around us. According to this concept, once a person has taken up a favorite life position, he’s likely to construct his world view around that life position. There are four basic life positions.
These life positions are discussed in detail in a book titled, “I’m Ok, You’re Ok”. These life positions are discussed in detail in next articles. Starting at “I’m Ok, you’re Ok”, all four positions are discussed in great detail with examples.
