This article integrates transactional analysis theory and neo-Reichian perspectives. Following a developmental model, the author describes how the child may tense and relax the body physiologically in a comfortable and healthy environment, one with an optimal level of frustration. Traumatic experiences and excessive or unpredictable frustrations are linked to chronic muscle contraction and retraction. The child establishes a gestalt, with specific feelings, thoughts, muscle tone, and levels of energy that maintain the script in its structural form. Clinical manifestations of body scripting and phases of treatment are considered. A case example is provided to illustrate this process.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
de AjuriaguerraJ. (1962). Le corps comme relations. Revue Suisse de Psychologie, 2 (2,) 137–157.
2.
de AjuriaguerraJ. (1974). Manuel de psychiatrie de l'enfant. Paris: Masson.
3.
BakerE. (1969). Man in the trap. New York: Macmillan Company.
4.
BerneE. (1964). Games people play. New York: Grove Press.
5.
BerneE. (1972). What do you say after you say hello?. New York: Grove Press.
6.
BerneE. (1976). Beyond games and scripts. New York: Grove Press.
7.
BoydH. L. (1976). The structure and sequence of psychotherapy. Transactional Analysis Journal, 6, 180–183.
8.
CargnelloD. (1969). Il problema della corporeit [The problem of corporality]. Il lavoro neuropsichiatrico, Anno XII, 3, 1232–1312.
9.
CassiusJ. (1975). Bodyscripts. Collected papers of physical aspects of transactional analysis. Author's unpublished manuscript.
10.
CassiusJ. (1977). Bioenergetics and TA. Techniques in TA (pp. 272–282). Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
11.
CassiusJ. (1980). Bodyscript release: How to use bioenergetics and transactional analysis. Horizons in Bioenergetics (pp. 212–244). Memphis: Promethean.
12.
Childs-GowellE. (1975). Transactional analysis and the body: Sensory stimulation techniques. Transactional Analysis Journal, 5, 148–150.
13.
Childs-GowellE., & KinnamanP. (1978). Body-script blockbusting. San Francisco: TA Pubs.
14.
CornellW. (1975). Wake up sleepy!Transactional Analysis Journal, 5, 144–147.
15.
EnglishF. (1971). The substitution factor: Rackets and real feelings, Part I. Transactional Analysis Journal, 1 (4), 225–230.
16.
EnglishF. (1972). Rackets and real feelings, Part II. Transactional Analysis Journal, 2 (1), 23–25.
EnglishF. (1977). What shall I do tomorrow?: Reconceptualizing transactional analysis. Transactional analysis after Eric Berne (pp. 287–347). New York: Harper & Row.
19.
ErskineR. G. (1980). Script cure: Behavioral, intrapsychic and physiological. Transactional Analysis Journal, 10, 102–106.
20.
ErskineR. G., & ZalcmanM. (1979). The racket-system: A model for the analysis of rackets. Transactional Analysis Journal, 9, 51–59.
21.
GalimbertiU. (1983). Il corpo [The body]. Milano: Feltrinelli.
22.
GouldingM. M., & GouldingR. L. (1979). Changing lives through redecision therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel.
23.
GrandS. (1982). The body and its boundaries: A psychoanalytic view of cognitive process disturbances in schizophrenia. Review of Psycho-Analysis, 9, 327–341.
24.
HollowayW. H. (1977). Transactional analysis: An integrative view. Transactional analysis after Eric Berne (pp. 169–222). New York: Harper & Row.
25.
HoltbyM. (1976). The origin and insertion of script injunction. Transactional Analysis Journal, 6, 371–376.
26.
JamesM. (1974). Self reparenting: Theory and process. Transactional Analysis Journal, 4 (3), 32–39.
27.
JamesM. (1977). Philosophy and techniques of TA. Techniques in transactional analysis (pp. 3–124). Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
28.
JamesM., & JongewardD. (1971). Born to win: Transactional analysis with Gestalt experiments. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
29.
KarpmanS. (1968). Fairy tale and script drama analysis. Transactional Analysis Bulletin, 7 (26), 39–43.
30.
KohutH. (1976). The analysis of the self. New York: International Universities Press.
31.
KohutH. (1978). The search for the self. New York: International University Press.
LaboritH. (1979). L'inhibition de l'action. Paris: Masson.
34.
LenhardtV. (1984). Bioscripts. TA: The state of the art. Dordrecht, Holland: Foris Publications.
35.
LenhardtV., & FourcadeJ. M. (1984). Analyse transactionelle et bio-energie. Paris: Editions Universitaires.
36.
LigabueS., SpiazziR., CastiglioniB., PaganiniR., GiribonoP., & LingiardiV. (1986). Contribute alla reintegrazione delle strutture del sé psichico e corporeo mediante pratiche di riabilitazione psicomotorie precoci in pazienti psicotici acuti ospedalizzati [A contribution to the reintegration of the structures of psychic and corporeal self through early psychomotor rehabilitation in hospitalized acute psychotic patients]. Psichiatria e Psicoterapia Analitica, III (2), 317–320.
37.
LissJ., & BoadellaD. (1986). La psicoterapia del corpo (Body psychotherapy). Roma: Astrolabio
38.
LowenA. (1958). Physical dynamics of character structure: The language of the body. New York: Grune & Stratton.
39.
LowenA. (1975). Bioenergetics. New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan.
40.
LowenA., & LowenL. (1977). The way to vibrant health: A manual of bioenergetic exercises. New York: Harper & Row.
41.
MellorK. (1980). Impasses: A developmental and structural understanding. Transactional Analysis Journal, 10, 213–220.
42.
MoisoC., & NovellinoM. (1982). Stati dell'io [Ego states]. Roma: Astrolabio.
43.
PaoPing-Nie. (1979). Schizophrenic disorders. New York: International Universities Press.
44.
PasiniW. (1982). Il corpo in psicoterapia. [The body in psychotherapy]. Milano: Cortina.
45.
ReichW. (1942). The function of the orgasm. New York: Orgone Institute Press.
46.
ReichW. (1949). Character analysis. New York: Farrar, Strauss & Giroux.
47.
SchiffJ. L., with SchiffA. W., MellorK., SchiffE., SchiffS., RichmanD., FishmanJ., WolzL., FishmanC., & MombD. (1975). Cathexis reader: Transactional analysis treatment of psychosis. New York: Harper & Row.
48.
SchilderP. (1955). The image and appearance of the human body. London: Kegan.
49.
SteinerC. (1974). Scripts people live. New York: Grove Press.
50.
WallonH. (1950). L'volution psychologique de l'nfant. Paris: Colin.
51.
WinnicottD. W. (1970). Processus de maturation chez l'enfant. Paris: Payot.
52.
WinnicottD. W. (1971). Lieux du corps: Le corps e le self. Nuorelle Revue de Psycanalise, 3, 37–48.
53.
WoollamsS., & BrownM. (1978). Transactional analysis. A modern and comprehensive text of TA theory and practice. Ypsilanti, MI: Spectrum Psychological Service.
