Transactional Analysis Theory Research Articles

Problematic Workplace Behaviours in the Software Development Profession: Using Transactional Analysis to Diagnose Toxicity and Improve Relationships at Work

The growing and unmet demand for coding skills is becoming critical in a world that is ever-more driven by digital technologies, embedded algorithms and artificial intelligence systems. However, sustainability of the profession is threatened because of the failure to attract and retain women developers, which has been an ongoing and corrosive problem for decades and remains unresolved. While many previous studies attribute ‘toxic’ workplace cultures in the software development industry, as a major contributing factor, few examine their root causes and almost none offer practical solutions. To address this lack of both knowledge and effective response, we propose a novel approach building on psychoanalytical Transactional Analysis (TA) theory that is little used in the field of management and organisation studies. TA theory provides a framework using common and simplified language to better understand why communications in the workplace fail, and how occupying incompatible ego states might lead to ‘ negative’, ‘ problematic’ and, in the worst cases, ‘ toxic’ behaviours and workplaces. We propose a TA-based model (OCTAPos) that helps explain how crossed communications at work can result in a lack of acceptance of women in the workplace and attrition among female software developers and the resultant dearth of diverse coders. We further propose a theoretically informed HRM Structured TA Response (STAR) to help increase self-awareness, emotional intelligence, empathy and mutual understanding, with the ultimate aim of positively impacting prevailing attitudes, behaviours and organisational culture to achieve more inclusive and sustainable recruitment and retention in the longer term.

Does Transactional Analysis Have Enough to Offer Those in Leadership Positions to Enhance Their Understanding of the Role?

This article opens with a critical review of a selection of transactional analysis (TA) theory on leadership to illustrate the richness of what is available. It then presents some views and experiences from a sample of senior leaders in order to explore any links between the two. Consideration is given to what constitutes leadership and how our understanding of it has shifted over time to engage those who are less familiar with the topic. The article concludes that Berne’s original thinking, embellished by later TA practitioners, is a valuable resource for leaders today. The goal of the article is to provoke curiosity across the TA community about how to raise awareness of TA more broadly in organizations.

Conceptual and Theoretical Review of Self-Worth

This study examined the significance of self-worth as a crucial factor in human mental health and psychosocial development. The study explores self-worth interventions, mental disorders, and available resources. A comprehensive analysis of the conceptual and theoretical aspects of self-worth is undertaken. To begin with, the study offers conceptual justifications drawn from the self-worth literature, elucidating theoretical perspectives on the formation of self-worth in individuals. It elaborates on related concepts and their interconnections with self-worth. Furthermore, the examination extends to the influence of culture on self-worth development and emotions. Theoretical discussions on self-worth are approached through Psychoanalytic theory, Psychosocial development theory, Transactional analysis theory, and Attachment theory. The research scrutinizes the association between various mental disorders and self-worth, investigating how a lack of self-worth may exacerbate or precipitate certain psychopathologies. Previous interventions aimed at enhancing self-worth are outlined, accompanied by an exploration of methods for measuring self-worth. The study emphasizes the pivotal role of self-worth in individuals' mental health, considering the implications of concepts like unconditional self-worth and contingencies of self-worth. Recommendations are provided for individuals, parents, and mental health professionals based on the findings.

Exploring the Possibility of Mutually Enriching Exchange in Özdamar's ‘Mother Tongue’ and ‘Grandfather Tongue’ - Focusing on the Transactional Analysis Theory

Exploring the Possibility of Mutually Enriching Exchange in Özdamar's ‘Mother Tongue’ and ‘Grandfather Tongue’ - Focusing on the Transactional Analysis Theory

Vadim Petrovsky: “Berne Himself Left Injunctions Against Empirical Research to His Successors, and It’s Time for Us to Circumvent These Injunctions”

Interview with Vadim Arturovich Petrovsky, Doctor of Psychological Sciences, Professor, Corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Education, psychologist in the modality of transactional analysis, about the synthesis of psychological practice and scientific research in the field of psychology in general and transactional analysis in particular. In this interview, issues such as the willingness of practicing psychologists of the transactional analysis modality to conduct their own research and scientific experiments are raised, the difficulties of modern psychological science, the connection and interpenetration of the practice and theory of transactional analysis are discussed. The interview also talks about the objective limitations of transactional analysis as a scientific method and the subjective characteristics of practicing psychologists in terms of writing scientific articles and conducting research. The conversation between the editor-in-chief of the journal “Transactional Analysis in Russia” and Vadim Petrovsky touched upon unexplored topics and areas of development of TA and its concepts as objects of scientific research for the psychological community not only in Russia, but also in the world. Which fields (Counseling, Psychotherapy, Education, TA in Organisations) and concepts of Transactional Analysis are most ready today to bridge the gap from practice to theory and vice versa?

Unmasking Neurodiversity: Revisiting the Relationship Between Core Self and Sense of Self to Examine Common Neurodivergent Script Decisions

This article proposes further development of a TA model that accounts for neurodiversity in a way that is not pathological, one that is in critical response to implicit ableism in TA theory and current standard diagnostic manuals. The authors propose that there is value in incorporating theories of a core organismic self alongside transactional analysis theory of ego structure in accounting for our unique qualities endowed since birth, including neurodiversity. They suggest that the sense of self is formed by two relational processes: the I-I relationship between structural ego states and the core self and the I-Other relationship between structural ego states and others. The authors propose that the accommodations made by a neurodivergent person generally lead to script decisions emerging from their sense of self, which are often categorized as lazy, stupid, and disruptive. The article offers some thinking about these script decisions’ complementary functions.

Development of a Premarital Education Package Based on Transactional Analysis Theory

Objective: The aim of the present study was to develop a premarital education package based on Transactional Analysis theory. Methods and Materials: The scope of this research encompassed all texts related to the psychological theory of Transactional Analysis. The selection of texts was purposefully done from Eric Berne's theoretical works within the timeframe of 1990 to 2024. The criterion for the number of texts was based on the principle of data saturation. The method of data collection involved line-by-line examination of texts, guided by questions relevant to the components suitable for premarital counseling in this theory. The data obtained from the text reviews were analyzed using the conventional content analysis method by Hsieh and Shannon (2005). Findings: The results of the content analysis indicated that in Eric Berne's theory, 1) the ego states (Adult, Parent, and Child), life script (characteristics of the life script, elements of the life script, and four life positions), and transactions (complementary transactions, crossed transactions, ulterior transactions, and games) are appropriate for alignment with premarital education. Subsequently, these concepts were integrated theoretically using the method by Yousefi and Golparvar (2023), and ultimately, the premarital education package was designed and prepared. Conclusion: Overall, considering the process of deriving this education, it can be said that it is content-valid and can be evaluated at the level of designing an educational package and conducting experimental reviews on marriage-related constructs.

A Study on the Narrative Case of Counseling for Middle-Aged Couples Using Transactional Analysis Theory

A Study on the Narrative Case of Counseling for Middle-Aged Couples Using Transactional Analysis Theory

Digital communication between superiors and subordinates in Borneo Export and Import Trading Company (Intercultural communication perspective)

This research aims to find out how to smoothly establish digital communication between supervisors and subordinates who have different cultures and languages in PT Borneo Export and Import Trade Company. PT Borneo Export and Import Trade is a company involved in the food and beverage industry, especially in the swallow's nest health food. This research uses transactional analysis theory to see the extent of communication between superiors and subordinates effectively and uses bureaucratic theory to see the communication patterns that exist between superiors and subordinates at PT Borneo Export and Import Trade. This research uses a qualitative method with a constructivist approach to see the social reality of the case. According to the findings of the study, there are indeed barriers in this intercultural communication, but intercultural communication is successfully carried out by using digital communication, namely using Google Translate application as translation.

A Movie Review in the Scope of Transactional Analysis Theory: Winter Sleep

Transaksiyonel Analiz (TA) bireylerin davranışlarını ve iletişim biçimlerini anlamak adına kapsamlı bir yaklaşım olarak görülmektedir. Kurama ait kavramların bir kısmını günlük hayatta fark etmek ve somutlaştırmak kolay olsa da, kuramın bazı soyut kavramlarını anlamak adına Kış Uykusu filminde yer alan örneklerin yararlı olacağı düşünülmektedir. Bu çalışmada Kış Uykusu filmi doküman inceleme yöntemi ile analiz edilmiştir. İlk olarak film araştırmacılar tarafından bağımsız olarak birer kez izlenmiş, olası örnek sahneler gruplanmıştır. Araştırmacılar tarafından ilgili sahneler tekrar izlenmiş ve TA yaklaşımına göre örnekler not edilmiştir. Araştırmacılar örneklere ilişkin görüşlerini tartışmış ve görüş birliğine varmışlardır. Filmde yer alan sahnelerden kurama ait Ego Durumları, Transaksiyonlar, Temas İletileri, Zamanı Yapılandırma, Yaşam Pozisyonları ve Senaryo Analizi kavramlarına ait örnekler bulunmuştur. Sonuç olarak Kış Uykusu filmi TA yaklaşımı kavramlarına dair unsurlar bulunduran bir eserdir. Eser, kuramın özellikle Oyun Analizi, Temas İletileri ve Senaryo Analizi gibi anlaması görece zor olan kavramlarını somutlaştırmak adına eğitim uygulamalarında kullanılabilir. Eğitim içeriğinde TA yaklaşımı bulunan lisans ve lisansüstü programlarda Kış Uykusu filminin izlenmesinin ve kuram kapsamında tartışılmasının yararlı olacağı düşünülmektedir.

Transactional Analysis and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy on Marital Satisfaction: Implications for Christian Couples’ Counselling

Marital satisfaction may be the sole key to a couple’s happiness. Thus, this study explores the application of Transactional Analysis and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy in relation to the improvement of marital satisfaction in Christian couples. The study adopted the non-randomised control group pretest-post-test quasi-experimental. The sample size of 400 was purposively drawn from a population of 34,518 for the study. Based on the analysis of the 400 inventories, 15 ‘dissatisfied couples’ (making a total of 30 respondents) were selected and placed into control and experimental groups. The research instrument used was the Marital Satisfaction Inventory (MSI) with a Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient (r) of .89. The finding showed a significant difference in marital satisfaction of couples before and after intervention with regard to transactional analysis theory and solution-focused brief therapy on all the scales of the MSI. Respondents reported improved marital satisfaction, a change from being dissatisfied before intervention and becoming satisfied after intervention. Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that counselling theories such as transactional analysis and solution-focused brief therapy are effective in improving the marital satisfaction levels of couples. To this, it was recommended that marriage counselling practitioners should learn more about the two theories and apply them in helping their clients out of their relationship challenges

What We Think Becomes the Reality of Our Lives

This is a review on the book by Linda Gregory Three Paths to Autonomy and Self-Actualization. Integration of Transactional Analysis, Spirituality, and Quantum Field. The author of the review analyzes the material of the book, namely the integration of the spiritual aspect with Transactional Analysis and quantum field theory. Also the reviewer writes about her own search path, similar to the path of Linda Gregory. This review describes the general content of the book, provides brief descriptions of the main techniques that are presented by Linda Gregory as recommended for achieving results: meditation and practice of Heart Math, necessary to restore and strengthen contact with the Inner Child.

In Memory of Ken Mellor

This article is dedicated to the memory of Ken Mellor, a teacher and a supervisor of Transactional Analysis in psychotherapy, who passed away in July 2023 in Australia. Ken Mellor made a great contribution to the development of Transactional Analysis and to the emergence and development of a new field Spiritual Transactional Analysis. He published many of his papers in professional journals including the Transactional Analysis Journal of the International Transactional Analysis Association (ITAA). This article focuses on his contributions to the expansion and development of Transactional Analysis and on the connection that he saw between the foundations of Transactional Analysis theory and spirituality. It describes his ideas and additions to Eric Bernes ideas on autonomy. In one of his articles published in the Transactional Analysis Journal (TAJ), Ken draws on his spiritual experiences and practices to suggest specific steps that can be taken to arrive at autonomy. To the well-known components described by Eric Berne awareness, spontaneity, and readiness for intimacy Ken added another important component that Eric Berne had not written about.

"I Just Want to Feel Good Without Making You Feel Bad": Sexual Assertiveness Negotiation in Adolescent Romantic Relationships.

Sexual assertiveness is often conceptualized as an individual's ability to express one's own sexual needs, desires, and limits. Given that sexual assertiveness is embedded in interactions and can affect not only both partners' sexual well-being but also relationship satisfaction, dyadic approaches are needed to investigate sexual assertiveness negotiation within adolescent romantic relationships. This qualitative study aimed to document adolescents' ability to negotiate their sexual needs, desires, and limits with their partners during interactions where they discussed their sexual concerns. A directed content analysis, based on the life positions of the transactional analysis theory, was conducted on the interactions of 40 adolescent romantic dyads aged 14-19years (M = 16.65; SD = 1.49). The results revealed four categories of strategies: (1) mutual assertiveness: negotiation of one's own sexual needs, desires, and limits with those of the partner; (2) singular passiveness: repression of one's own sexual needs, desires, and limits to privilege those of the partner; (3) singular aggressiveness: prioritization of one's own sexual needs, desires, and limits over those of the partner; and (4) mutual lack of negotiation skills: neglecting both partners' sexual needs, desires, and limits. Among other things, adolescents' ability to be sexually assertive was hindered by anticipations, including assumptions leading to disregarding one's own sexual needs, desires, and limits or fearing to ignore the partner's. To promote mutually rewarding sexual activities and prevent sexual violence, sexual education initiatives should support adolescents' ability to assertively negotiate their sexuality with their partner and avoid passiveness, aggressiveness, and lack of negotiation.

Functional Ego States, Behavior Patterns, and Social Interaction of Bulgarian Adolescents and Their Parents

Adolescence is a dynamic period of transition, and interaction with parents is important for successfully passing through it. This article presents results from a study of three transactional analysis theory personality constructs of adolescents and their parents—functional ego states, life positions, and stroke economy. The sample included 215 students from 12 to 16 years old and 215 parents from 30 to 55 years old. The results show significant differences between the ego states Adult, Adapted Child, Nurturing Parent and Normative Parent of the adolescents and their parents, which are more expressed in the parents. It was found that the life position, “I am OK—you are OK” is more strongly expressed in parents, while the life position, “I am not OK—you are not OK” is leading in adolescents. In their interactions with others, adolescents express modesty, self-doubt, and underestimation of their own success, while parents are more assertive, confident, and resilient in their behavior. The obtained results can be used in different programs to improve social interaction and increase the effectiveness of adolescent-parent relationships.

Growing Up at Work: How to Transform Personally, Evolve Professionally, and Lead Authentically

Growing Up at Work: How to Transform Personally, Evolve Professionally, and Lead Authentically

Revisiting Ecological Transactional Analysis: Emerging Perspectives

The authors offer a retrospective look at the initial phase in the development of ecological transactional analysis (eco-TA). Following from the original papers in which they offered tentative definitions and principles, they here consider and engage with a range of critical observations, challenges, and opportunities to further evolve the idea of an ecological perspective on transactional analysis theory and practice. Specific themes are addressed, including the relationship between eco-TA and climate change activism, accounting for diversity and inclusion in ecological work, the issue of leadership and authority in eco-TA, the complexity of language in articulating beyond the human perspective, and the distinction between indoor and outdoor practices. Finally, the authors offer a new concept—the ecological mind—which is designed to support the evolution of eco-TA, and invite readers to reflect on practice and professional identity.

The Maternal: An Integral Part of Eco-TA

The author highlights the inherent nature of the maternal within eco-TA and explores how it can enrich and expand transactional analysis theory and practice. Eco-TA emphasizes the interconnectivity of humans and our environment. The maternal exemplifies this interconnectivity and shows how individuals are interconnected and why these connections are important. The maternal plays a significant role in evolutionary processes and thus life, birth, and rebirth of all animals, not just humans. The author suggests that the maternal can inform our understanding through elements such as conception, connection, togetherness, natality, support, health, and well-being. The article focuses on physis and introduces the new ideas of transgenerational protocol and fourth-degree impasses. The aim is to show the value of deepening knowledge and understanding of evolution and regeneration through the concept of the maternal. This may help to focus TA toward growth and evolution within the professional community toward the next generations of trainees, highlighting the importance of connectivity, togetherness, holding, regulating, educating, and passing on the legacy that is TA.

Assessment of the Factor Structure of Test Tokyo University Egogram (TEG 3) on Women and Men in Iran

Objective: Understanding personality characteristics can help us understand how individuals manifest their personality through their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Among numerous tools available to assess personality, one of them is the Egogram questionnaire. Accordingly, the purpose of this research was to standardize the Tokyo University Egogram questionnaire (TEG3). Methods and Materials: The present research was a descriptive correlation study with a standardization approach. The statistical population of the study included women and men aged 20 to 40 in Tehran in 2021. 2707 participants, including 1585 women and 1122 men, were selected through convenience sampling. The Egogram questionnaire was designed based on the transactional analysis theory, which included 5 factors: the criticizing parent, the supportive parent, the adult, the natural child, the adapted child, and the Q validity scale and L lie scale. Data were analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha, and SPSS.22 software. Findings: The results of the validity, internal consistency, and reliability of the tool using Cronbach's alpha, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis showed that the Egogram questionnaire consists of 5 factors in the Iranian culture, and the Cronbach's alpha coefficient of all the factors is above 0.7. Also, the Pearson correlation coefficient showed an acceptable internal consistency within the questionnaire factors among women and men. Conclusion: This questionnaire can be used as a practical and new tool in the field of personality psychology and approaches such as schema therapy.

Assimilating problematic life script themes in clinical supervision: The case of Adam

ABSTRACT In transactional analysis theory, life script themes are archaic patterns of experience and interaction, which can emerge during clinical work and impact practice. This study examined whether a newly qualified therapist’s problematic life script themes were detectable in supervision, how they were addressed, and whether addressing them led to assimilation of these themes. Seven consecutive supervision sessions with a recently-qualified male therapist (pseudonym Adam) were transcribed and analyzed using a qualitative theory-building approach. The assimilation of problematic experiences sequence (APES) was used to track changes in Adam’s life script themes. Life script themes were evident in all seven supervision sessions. They centered on two interconnected themes of abuse and rejection. Discussions of these themes in supervision focused on over-identification, protectiveness, and self-disclosure. The supervisor’s interventions included didactic work appropriate for a beginning clinician and facilitative work in supporting development of assimilation of problematic themes. Reflective supervision including exploration of the therapist’s personal process when it is triggered can enhance practice development, and be an important part of the supervision process, providing it respect teach/treat boundary. Comparisons with previous research suggested that script themes emerged differently in supervision of relatively inexperienced supervisees as opposed to experienced ones.