Introduction
to Transactional Analysis
with
a view of automatic processing and emergency cases
This is a
section of Aldi Yudha’s book [1]. I will first take the introduction and the
relevant part ‘Parent’ ego state. Later
I will comment on its relation to automatic processing and even emergency
cases. It is not rare that we hear an
ATCO shouting to a pilot unfortunately.
But actually it is not the ATCO but it is her father/mother
shouting. Why/How? Please read the below and my next blog
article.
Ego states
An idea
fundamental to transactional analysis is that of ego states. Berne suggested
that human personality is made up of three elements which he referred to as
Parent, Adult and Child. These familiar words were used by him to describe
states of ‘self’ or states of mind which he believed
gave rise to
their own individual patterns of behaviour.
Ego states are, of course, common to all of us
and govern our thoughts, feelings and behaviour. In any given situation an individual
will exhibit a certain pattern of behaviour which corresponds
to the way
that person is actually feeling at the time. As feelings change, so also do the
patterns of behaviour which the person displays.
Parent ego
state
The Parent
ego state represents a set of thoughts, feelings and behaviour which are
derived from parental figures. According to Berne (1964) the Parent ego state
is exhibited in both indirect and direct form. A person may, for example,
respond as one of his parents actually responded in a given situation. When
this occurs, the ego state is directly shown. When the parental influence is an
indirect one, then the person is likely to respond as his parents would have
wished him to respond.
Information
from the past
Information
which is recorded in the Parent ego state enables us to cope with all aspects
of living. It also provides all the data necessary to enable people to function
as parents themselves and raise their own children. Another significant aspect
of the Parent ego state is that it enables people to respond automatically in
many situations, so that many ‘routine matters’ as Berne describes them can be
dealt with without unnecessary expenditure of energy (Berne, 1964). Problems
arise, though, when the Parent ego state is inappropriate or counter-productive
in a given situation. One example of this is the bank cashier who adopts a
certain ‘superior’ stance in relation to the account holders she is meant to
serve.
Berne (1972)
elaborated on his structural diagram of personality, so that the Parent ego
state is now commonly divided into ‘Nurturing Parent’ and ‘Critical’ or
‘Controlling’ Parent – see Figure 7.2. This diagram also illustrates the
subdivision of the Child ego state into ‘Free’ or ‘Rebellious’ Child, and
‘Adapted’ Child.
Nurturing
Parent and Controlling Parent The terms ‘Nurturing Parent’ and ‘Controlling
Parent’ refer to two different sets of influence which are absorbed in early
childhood and are clearly distinguishable from each other when they are
manifest.
However,
both these words, ‘Controlling’ and ‘Prejudicial’, are meant to denote
arbitrary and pro hibitive attitudes which are borrowed from parental figures
and are usually exhibited automatically and without question in certain
situations.
The
‘Nurturing Parent’ ego state is shown in a completely different way, and is
usually manifest as sympathy or support for others in need or distress. It is
important to remember that children are also capable of responding in all three
ego states, and when they are in ‘Nurturing Parent’ it tends to be demonstrated
as concern for someone or something smaller, weaker and more vulnerable,
including toys and dolls.
REFERENCES:
[1] Aldi Yudha; Counselling Skills and
theory, 4th Edition by Margaret Hough (2014)
