Current transactional analysis (TA) explanations for cultural or intercultural behavior propose that displays of irrational behavior–that is, prejudices, stereotypes, and cultural scripts–can be attributed to structural contamination, personality dysfunction, or character disposition. This formula has been called a symptom theory approach (Ashmore & Del Boca, 1981) to explaining social cognitions. In this article, a cultural frame of reference (CFR) is proposed which is a subsystem of the individual frame of reference. The CFR is the primary source of one's personal social identity and provides each person with many types of social cognitions with which to integrate ego state responses to intergroup exchanges and encounters. In addition, social psychological mediators of categorical thinking and social identity are discussed as having a significant role during intergroup encounters.
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