This article offers some theoretical reflections on the foundations of transactional analysis with criteria for a scientific theory. A common basis for the different theories, models, and explanations in transactional analysis is presented. The view of the human mind as a self-organizing system is derived from the transactional analysis view of human nature and from Berne's approach to the human psyche as an organ in itself. The theories of personality structure and dynamics (ego system and ego states), the creation of relationships (seen as an expanded communication theory), and the creation of life (script theory) are considered as a closely related network that forms a coherent map of transactional analysis theories. The importance of the role of the ego system and the need for a definition of exteropsychic and archeopsychic ego states as pathological within the structural model is examined. The functional model and the connection and transition between the structural and the functional models are described.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BatesonG. (1984). Geist und natur. Eine notwendige einheit [Mind and nature: A necessary unity]. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp.
2.
BerneE. (1961). Transactional analysis in psychotherapy: A systematic individual and social psychiatry.New York: Grove Press.
3.
BerneE. (1964). Games people play: The psychology of human relationships.New York: Grove Press.
4.
BerneE. (1966). Principles of group treatment.New York: Grove Press.
5.
BerneE. (1971). Away from a theory of the impact of interpersonal interaction on non-verbal participation. Transactional Analysis Journal, 1(1), 6–13.
6.
BerneE. (1972). What do you say after you say hello? The psychology of human destiny.New York: Grove Press.
7.
BerneE. (1977). The ego image. In McCormickP. (Ed.), Intuition and ego states: The origins of transactional analysis (pp. 99–119). San Francisco: TA Press. (Original work published in The Psychiatric Quarterly, 31 611–627, 1957a).
8.
BerneE. (1977). Ego states in psychotherapy. In McCormickP. (Ed.), Intuition and ego states: The origins of transactional analysis (pp. 121–144). San Francisco: TA Press. (Original work published in The American Journal of Psychotherapy, 11 293–309, 1957b).
9.
BerneE. (1977). Primal images and primal judgments. In McCormickP. (Ed.), Intuition and ego states: The origins of transactional analysis (pp. 67–97). San Francisco: TA Press. (Original work published in The Psychiatric Quarterly, 29 634–658, 1955).
10.
BerneE. (1977). The psychodynamics of intuition. In McCormickP. (Ed.), Intuition and ego states: The origins of transactional analysis (pp. 159–166). San Francisco: TA Press. (Original work published in The Psychiatric Quarterly, 36 294–300, 1962).
11.
BerneE. (1977). Transactional analysis: A new and effective method of group therapy. In McCormickP. (Ed.), Intuition and ego states: The origins of transactional analysis (pp. 145–158). San Francisco: TA Press. (Original work published in The American Journal of Psychotherapy, 12 735–743, 1958).
12.
BlanckG.BlanckR. (1988). Angewandte ich-psychologie [Ego psychology: Theory and practice]. Stuttgart: Klett Verlag. (Original work published 1974).
13.
BlanckG.BlanckR. (1989). Ich-psychologie II. Psychoanalytische entwicklungspsychologie [Ego pschology II]. Stuttgart: Klett Verlag. (Original work published 1979).
14.
BohmD. (1985). Die implizite Ordnung [Wholeness and the implicate order]Munich: Dianus Trikont Buchverlag.
15.
BowlbyJ. (1980). Das glueck und die trauer [The making and breaking of affectional bonds]Stuttgart: Klett Cotta. (Original work published 1979).
16.
CapraF. (1981). Der kosmische reigen [The tao of physics]Bern: Otto Wilhelm Barth.
17.
CapraF. (1987). Wendezeit [Time of change]Bern: Scherz.
18.
ChewG. F. (1968). Bootstrap: A scientific idea?Science, 161762–765.
19.
ClarksonP.GilbertM. (1988). Berne's original model of ego states: Some theoretical considerations. Transactional Analysis Journal, 1820–29.
20.
CornellW. F. (1988). Life script theory: A critical review from a developmental perspective. Transactional Analysis Journal, 18270–283.
21.
EnglishF. (1980). Was werde ich morgen tun? Eine neue begriffsbestimmung der transaktionsanalyse [What shall I do tomorrow?: Reconceptualizing transactional analysis]. In BarnesG. (Ed.), Transactional analysis after Eric Berne: Teachings and practices of three TA schools (pp. 170–257). New York: Harper's College Press. (Original work published 1977).
22.
ErskineR. G. (1988). Ego structure, intrapsychic function, and defense mechanisms: A commentary on Eric Berne's original theoretical concepts. Transactional Analysis Journal, 1815–19.
23.
ErskineR. G. (1991). Transference and transactions: Critique from an intrapsychic and integrative perspective. Transactional Analysis Journal, 2163–76.
24.
FedernP. (1952). Ego psychology and the psychoses.New York: Basic Books.
25.
FreudS. (1978). Elemente der psychoanalyse [Elements of psychoanalysis]. (FreudA.Grubrich-SimitisI., Eds.) (Vols. 1–2). Frankfurt am Main: Fischer.
26.
GouldingM. M.GouldingR. L. (1979). Changing lives through redecision therapy.New York: Brunner/Mazel.
27.
GrofS. (Ed.). (1986). Alte Weisheit und modernes denken [Ancient wisdom and modern science]Munich: Koesel.
28.
HarschH.JessenF. (1985). Transaktions-analyse. Tauschhandel der gefuehle [Transactional analysis. Barter with feelings]. In PetzoldH. (Ed.), Wege zum menschen [Ways to man] (Vol. 2) (pp. 309–396). Paderborn: Junfermann.
29.
HollowayW. H. (1977). Transactional analysis: An integrative view. In BarnesG. (Ed.), Transactional analysis after Eric Berne: Teachings and practices of three TA schools (pp. 169–221). New York: Harper's College Press.
30.
JantschE. (1982). Die Selbstorganisation des universums [The self-organizing universe]Munich: Hanser.
31.
KoestlerA. (1989). Der mensch irrläufer der evolution [Janus; A summing up]Frankfurt am Main: Fischer Verlag. (Original work published 1978).
32.
LockowandtO. (1985). Erkenntnisquellen und methoden der humanistischen psychologie [Sources of knowledge and methods in humanistic psychology]. In PetzoldH. (Ed.), Wege zum menschen [Ways to man] (Vol. 1) (pp. 45–110). Paderborn: Junfermann.
33.
LoyeD. (1986). Gehirn, geist und vision [The Sphinx and the rainbow]Berne: Sphinx.
34.
MahlerM.PineF.BergmanA. (1985). Die psychische geburt des menschen [The psychological birth of the human infant]Frankfurt am Main: Fischer Taschenbuch. (Original work published 1975).
35.
MatzeM. G. (1988). Reciprocity in script formation: A revision of the concept of symbiosis. Transactional Analysis Journal, 18304–308.
36.
MoisoC. (1985). Ego states and transference. Transactional Analysis Journal, 15194–201.
37.
NovellinoM. (1985). Redecision analysis of transference: A TA approach to transference neurosis. Transactional Analysis Journal, 15202–206.
38.
PiagetJ. (1969). Das erwachen der intelligenz beim kinde [The origin of intelligence in the child]Stuttgart: Klett. (Original work published 1959).
39.
PrigogineI. (1982). Vom sein zum werden. Zeit und komplexität in den naturwissenschaften [From being to becoming]. Munich/Zurich: Piper.
40.
PrigogineI.StengersI. (1983). Dialog mit der natur [Dialogue with nature]Munich/Zurich: Piper.
41.
RathI. (1989). (Mathematik)-didaktik in der Sackgasse? Diagnose-perspektiven-erfahrungen [Didactic in a blind alley? Diagnosis-perspectives-experiences]. In Beitraege zum Mathematikunterricht 1989 [Articles for learning mathematics], pp. 310–313. Bad Salzdethfurth: Franzbecker.
42.
SteinerC. M. (1974). Scripts people live: Transactional analysis of life scripts.New York: Grove Press.
43.
StewartI.JoinesV. (1987). TA today: A new introduction to transactional analysis.Nottingham, England, and Chapel Hill, NC: Lifespace Publishing.
44.
TrautmannR. L.ErskineR. G. (1981). Ego state analysis: A comparative view. Transactional Analysis Journal, 11178–185.
45.
WalshR.VaughanF. (1985). Psychologie in der wende [Beyond ego]. Bern: Scherz. (Original work published 1980).
46.
WoollamsS.BrownM.HuigeK. (1974). Transactional analysis in brief.Ann Arbor: Huron Valley Institute.
47.
ZalcmanM. J. (1990). Game analysis and racket analysis: Overview, critique, and future developments. Transactional Analysis Journal, 204–19.
