Transactional Analysis (TA) theory describes personality in terms of the relative strength of five functional ego states. Williams and Williams (1980) have devised a method for assessing ego-state strengths from self descriptions obtained from the Adjective Check List. This paper reports three studies concerned, respectively, with the construct validity of the Free Child, Adult, and Critical Parent scales. In each study, scores of university students on the particular ego state scale were compared to measures of other psychological variables, chosen because of their apparent relevance as judged from TA theory and previous research. Among the confirmed predictions were: the relationship of Free Child scores to openness to experience and sexuality; the relationship of Adult scores to emotional stability and impulsivity; and the relationship of Critical Parent scores to empathy and locus of control. Other theoretically derived predictions were not supported: for example, Free Child and creativity, Adult and convergent thinking, and Critical Parent and desire for control. Implications for TA theory and future research are noted.
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