Interpersonal behaviour and transactional analysis
Transactional analysis, developed by Eric Berne, reads every exchange as a meeting of Parent, Adult and Child ego states. The Johari window and FIRO-B explain interpersonal awareness.
Berne's ego states
| Ego state | Sub-types | Typical words or behaviour |
|---|---|---|
| Parent | Critical (controlling) and nurturing | 'Always', 'never', 'you should'; judging or protecting |
| Adult | None | Rational and fact-based: 'What are the facts?' |
| Child | Natural (free), adapted, and the 'little professor' | Fun and curiosity, or rebellion and compliance |
Types of transactions
| Type | What happens | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Complementary (parallel) | The reply comes from the ego state addressed and returns to the one that sent the message | Communication can go on smoothly |
| Crossed | The reply comes from an unexpected ego state | Communication breaks down or changes direction |
| Ulterior (hidden) | A social message on the surface hides a psychological message | The basis of psychological games |
Life positions
| Position | Attitude | Typical behaviour |
|---|---|---|
| I'm OK, You're OK | Healthy trust in self and others | Collaborating, problem-solving |
| I'm OK, You're not OK | Distrust of others | Blaming, controlling |
| I'm not OK, You're OK | Low self-worth | Withdrawing, depending on others |
| I'm not OK, You're not OK | Hopelessness | Giving up |
Johari window
| Area | Known to self? | Known to others? |
|---|---|---|
| Open (arena) | Yes | Yes |
| Blind | No | Yes |
| Hidden (façade) | Yes | No |
| Unknown | No | No |
Strokes, games and other interpersonal tools
- Strokes are units of recognition: positive or negative, conditional (for doing) or unconditional (for being).
- Games are repeated ulterior transactions with a hidden pay-off. Karpman's drama triangle has three roles: Persecutor, Rescuer and Victim.
- Berne's levels of analysis: structural analysis (ego states), analysis of transactions, game analysis and script analysis.
- Johari window: feedback from others shrinks the blind area; self-disclosure shrinks the hidden area; both enlarge the open area.
- FIRO-B (Schutz) measures expressed and wanted needs for inclusion, control and affection.
- Thomas-Kilmann conflict modes: competing, collaborating, compromising, avoiding and accommodating, plotted on assertiveness and cooperativeness.
NET asks you to identify the transaction type from a short dialogue, name ego states and life positions, and match Johari window areas with their meaning.
Typical MCQ: “Which type of transaction leads to a breakdown in communication?” A crossed transaction. Trap: complementary and parallel are the same thing, and both keep communication going.
Typical MCQ: “Which Johari area shrinks when others give you feedback?” The blind area. Trap: self-disclosure shrinks the hidden area, not the blind one.
Berne's PAC: Parent, Adult, Child. The healthy life position is I'm OK, You're OK.