This article identifies possible manifestations of cultural script in Western society today and the relevance they may have for the professional practice of transactional analysis. After a brief review of Eric Berne's views on script and culture, the author cites sociologist David Riesman's theory and shows how it can be used to understand social phenomena from a transactional analytic point of view. Examples of the effects that cultural influence may have on psychotherapy are discussed along with their theoretical meanings. The article concludes by presenting questions to help individuals identify possible influences of cultural script in their own lives.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AllenJ. R. (1999). Biology and transactional analysis: Integration of a neglected area. Transactional Analysis Journal, 29, 250–259.
2.
AllenJ. R. (2000). Biology and transactional analysis II: A status report on neurodevelopment. Transactional Analysis Journal, 30, 260–269.
3.
AllenJ. R. (2009). Constructivist and neuroconstructivist transactional analysis. Transactional Analysis Journal, 39, 181–192.
4.
AllenJ. R.AllenB. A. (1989). Ego states, self, and script. Transactional Analysis Journal, 19, 4–13.
5.
BerneE. (1939). Psychiatry in Syria. American Journal of Psychiatry, 95, 1415–1419.
6.
BerneE. (1950). Cultural aspects of a multiple murder. Psychiatric Quarterly (Supplement), 24, 250–269.
7.
BerneE. (1961). Transactional analysis in psychotherapy: An systemic individual and social psychiatry. New York: Grove Press.
8.
BerneE. (1963). The structure and dynamics of organizations and groups. New York: Lippincott.
9.
BerneE. (1968a). Games people play: The psychology of human relationships. London: Penguin Group. (Original work published 1964).
10.
BerneE. (1968b). A layman's guide to psychiatry and psychoanalysis (3rd ed. rev.). New York: Simon and Schuster.
11.
BerneE. (1970). Sex in human loving. New York: Simon & Schuster.
12.
BerneE. (1996). What do you say after you say hello?: The psychology of human destiny. London: Corgi Books. (Original work published 1972).
CornellW. F. (2003). Babies, brains and bodies: Somatic foundation of the child. In SillsC.HargadenH. (Eds), Ego states (Vol. 1 of Key concepts in transactional analysis: Contemporary views) (pp. 28–54). London: Worth Publishing.
15.
CranmerR. M. (1971). Eric Berne: Annotated bibliography. Transactional Analysis Journal, 1 (1), 23–29.
16.
DregoP. (1983). The cultural parent. Transactional Analysis Journal, 13, 224–227.
17.
DregoP. (1996). Cultural parent oppression and regeneration. Transactional Analysis Journal, 26, 58–77.
18.
DregoP. (2005). Acceptance speech on receiving the 2004 Eric Berne memorial award. Transactional Analysis Journal, 35, 7–30.
19.
DregoP. (2009). Bonding the ethnic child with the universal parent: Strategies and ethos of a transactional analysis ecocommunity activist. Transactional Analysis Journal, 39, 193–206.
20.
EnglishF. (1981). Letters to John McNeel, editor, TAJ, and Dr. Eric Berne. Transactional Analysis Journal, 11, 46–49.
21.
EnglishF. (1984). Counterpoint 2. In JorgensenE. W.JorgensenH. I., Eric Berne: Master gamesman. A transactional biography (p. 38). New York: Grove Press.
22.
GildebrandK. (2003). An introduction to the brain and the early development of the child ego state. In SillsC.HargadenH. (Eds), Ego states (Vol. 1 of Key concepts in transactional analysis: Contemporary views) (pp. 1–27). London: Worth Publishing.
23.
JamesM. (1983). Cultural script: Historical events vs. historical interpretation. Transactional Analysis Journal, 13, 217–223.
24.
JamesM.JongewardD. (1971). Born to win: Transactional analysis with gestalt experiments. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
25.
JorgensenE. W.JorgensenH. I. (1984). Eric Berne: Master gamesman: A transactional biography. New York: Grove Press.
26.
KrauszR. R. (1983). Brazilian national scripts. Transactional Analysis Journal, 13, 235–249.
27.
MazzettiM. (2007): Cultural identities in movement in a world in movement: New frontiers for transactional analysis. EATA Newsletter, 90, 6–13.
28.
MazzettiM. (2010, Autumn). Cross-cultural transactional analysis. The Psychotherapist, 46, 23–25.
29.
BarretoR. Menna (1985). Andlise transacional e carater social [Transactional analysis and social character]. Sao Paulo: Summus Editorial.
30.
Porter-SteeleN.SteeleC. (1983). Founding family: A United States sub-cultural script. Transactional Analysis Journal, 13, 251–252.
31.
RiesmanD. (1950). The lonely crowd: A study of the changing American character. New Haven: Yale University Press.
32.
SaidE.NoriegaG. (1983). Some Mexican cultural scripts. Transactional Analysis Journal, 13, 241–242.
33.
SchiffJ. (1977). One hundred children generate a lot of TA. In BarnesG. (Ed.), Transactional analysis after Eric Berne: Teachings and practices of three TA schools (pp. 54–57). New York: Harper's College Press.
34.
ShivanathS.HiremathM. (2003). The psychodynamics of race and culture. In SillsC.HargadenH. (Eds), Ego states (Vol. 1 of Key concepts in transactional analysis: Contemporary views) (pp. 169–184). London: Worth Publishing.
35.
SteinerC. (1974). Scripts people live: Transactional analysis of life scripts. New York: Grove Press.
36.
StewartI. (1992). Eric Berne. London: Sage Publications.
37.
WhiteM. (1983). One's Australian view of “The Australian script.”Transactional Analysis Journal, 13, 248.
