Transactional Analysis in Psychotherapy (ix->5) Introductory Statements + Chapter One
This book begins by stating its purpose. Its purpose is to outline the basics of a particular therapeutic/psychiatric method known as Transactional Analysis. The research that went into this book came from Dr. Berne's experiences at various psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric seminars where this method was employed. His experience as a doctor goes much further back however, but that is not the subject of this post.
Transactional Analysis is composed of roughly two parts:
1)structural analysis
2)transactional analysis
Structural analysis deals with the relationships between ego states within the personality and transactional analysis (lower-case) deals with the relationships between ego states in the matrix of social intercourse.
Ego states are related to, but very different than the hypothetical Id, Ego, and Superego. They are actual states of mind, "phenomenological entities," whereas the Id, Ego, and Superego are "concepts."
Much proof is given in the introduction to confirm this. Wilder Penfield, a well-reputed Canadian neurosurgeon, conducted experiments where he electrically stimulated different parts of the brain in epileptic patients in order to verify problem areas. Certain parts when stimulated would produce "isolated phenomena" but other parts, namely the temporal lobes, would produce complete memories. The memory that was produced would come with it the "understanding of the meaning of the experience and the emotion it may have aroused" (xviii). The patient would experience these memories as an observer of them and as the observed 'inside' them. This lead to the idea that two ego states could exist simultaneously in the same moment.
The important thing to note here that I found interesting was the actual organs in the brain responsible for these ego states. I did a simple search on Wikipedia and found out that the archipallium part of the brain was basically responsible for smells and memories and the neopallium was responsible for processing information and other advanced tasks. This seems to mean that the archicortex produces one ego state, the memory, while the neocortex produces the ego state corresponding to the present moment and the person's awareness of himself and the environment.
For example, right now I'm lying on my bed hearing trance music playing looking at a computer screen and also I'm remembering two hours ago I was eating caramel vanilla ice cream thinking "one of these days my metabolism is going to slow down and this ice cream will be making me fat."
According to Paul Federn, a psychologist that influenced Dr. Berne's conception of ego states, "repression of traumatic memories[...]is possible in many cases[...]only through repression of the whole pertinent ego state"(xix). I don't know much about repression but this also seems to confirm that our states of mind come sort of in 'chunks' or "ego states."
A problem I find myself referring back to is the idea that my experience of time is not one of chunks, but of a steady "me-ness." If ego states are the reality of my mind, why don't I feel more disjointed?
I am convinced of this psychological reality because of my past experience with personality parts. I was once governed by a set of well-intentioned "parts" (otherwise known as a false self) with my true self buried underneath, unaware of my own existence until one faithful day, I came to. That is the subject of another blog. Nevertheless, that experience has solidified my faith in personality parts, be they of the variety that Eric Berne is discussing (Parent, Adult, Child) or of a different variety.
This is perhaps why I am so interested in Transactional Analysis. I want to understand myself and the way I operate and I believe Dr. Eric Berne has come up with the best overarching categorization for understanding the human as an individual and as a social being.
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Berne talks about the various types of "conventional" therapy in chapter one. He breaks it down into two categories: parental and rational. Play therapy, he mentions, but he does not discuss it in detail. I believe this could be an important form of therapy to pursue on my own time given that it is the Child in me I find most intriguing.
Parental therapy is based on different form of "suggestion." To me this means the therapist would give advice concerning the problems that are being presented in hopes that the patient will follow it. This technique does not really account for the Child aspects of the personality and may lead to consequences that are "disappointing" and possibly "surprising" (not in a good way I'm assuming).
In my experience the Child in many people plays the game "Why Don't You - Yes But" where the main object is to seek advice for the purpose of rejecting the advice-giver and making him or her feel exasperated or disconcerted. It is a mild form of sadism that is usually compulsive and takes more than the patients will to stop playing. Giving advice to such a person will only serve to re-enforce this compulsion.
Rational therapy is based on "confrontation and interpretation." This corresponds to strengthening the Adult ego state in the patient, but according to Berne, most of these methods take longer than necessary. He does not really go into why they take longer but I'm assuming it is, once again, because not all the parts of the personality are being addressed.
Structural and transactional analysis deal with all the components that make up a person and in this way, it seems to be the most efficient and useful. Anxieties can be dealt with in a relatively short amount of time and because the Child is taken into account, "it loses none of the value of rational therapy."
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Structural analysis generally comes before transactional analysis because it is necessary to strengthen the Adult ego state in the patient's personality before the therapist can begin talking about the patient's interactions with other people.
Once the ego boundaries are strengthened and clarified, then the patient is ready for transactional analysis. This makes sense to me because if a person's data-processing ability is not "on top" to begin with, their ability to change their behavior regarding other people will be hampered by their "delusions" and "prejudices."
The process of transactional analysis involves teaching the patient about their interactions with other people: first, the simplest transactions and lastly, the most complex ones. The object of transactional analysis is "social control" or the ability of the patient to not compulsively manipulate others or fall victim to others' manipulations.
I will probably refer to that idea many times because it is vital that people know why they are doing what they are doing. The reason behind an action is important because without that knowledge, the action may not accomplish the desired end. The motivation provides order and direction to the action being taken. It also sheds light on the values that one is trying to bring into the world.
Transactional Analysis is valuable because it is a method for controlling behaviors. People often complain that they can't control themselves when it comes to food, drugs, work, shopping, gambling and a whole assortment of various activities. While there is definitely a chemical component involved in some addictions, there is also a psychological component.
I smoke cigarettes (unfortunately) and of course my brain's "need" for nicotine compels me to continue smoking them. I also am compelled by my Child ego state fantasy that smoking really isnt that bad. My Parent ego state may even support this habit by telling me that I, myself, am no good and therefore I should continue destroying myself. A part of me may even believe that smoking is good for me because it relieves tensions concerning my feelings of anxiety and boredom.
Don't worry about me though. I've made a commitment to quit. I will be quitting on July 12th, a date which holds a certain importance in my life.
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Berne claims that one must learn 3 words if they are to understand structural analysis in its practical application:
archaeopsyche
neopsyche
exteropsyche
and 3 more words if they are to understand transactional analysis in its practical application:
pastime
game
script
These will be elaborated on at a later date.
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