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4 – Transactional Analysis – questionnaire and profile
Transactional Analysis
Eric Berne – a Canadian psychoanalyst – developed an approach for analysing people called Transactional Analysis. It considers that every human being has three parts to their personality: Parent, Adult and Child. These are called ‘ego states’ and are systems of feelings, thought and attitudes.
The Parent Ego State (taught)
In the first 5 years of our lives, we absorb all the behaviours that our parents (or parental substitutes) exhibit and we store all this data as ‘tapes’ in our mind.
When we operate from our ‘parent’ ego state we are actually embodying the behaviours and attitudes that we learned from our own parents. This is our ‘taught’ way of operating.
The parent state can either be nurturing e.g. “let me take care of you” or critical, “do what l say or else”. In both cases the parent is assuming responsibility and controls/ directs proceedings.
Typical parent behaviours include: frowning, finger pointing, raised eyebrows, use of words like ought, should, must, need to, always and never.
Often the parent will become reactive, closed and resistant to other people’s ideas or inputs.
The Child Ego State (felt)
As with the Parent state, in our child state we also record data but this time it is related to our inner feelings.
When we operate from our child state we are operating from the feelings that we have experienced as a very young person e.g. vulnerable, inept, unable to communicate etc. we are seeking reassurance and/ or approval.
In our child state, our primary thoughts are for ourselves. We may become self obsessed and concerned only with our needs. We are likely to assign responsibility and control to others.
The child state can either be ‘adapted’ or ‘free’ e.g. ‘adapted’ means that we adapt our behaviour in order to gain approval or reward from others. ‘Free’ means that we access creativity, curiosity, our desire to explore and seek out new experiences.
Typical child behaviours include: tears, pouting, head tilted to the side, giggling, high pitch voice, whining voice, etc.
The Adult Ego State (thought)
The adult ego state first appears at about 10 months of age when we start to get mobile and experience the world ourselves.
The adult state takes longer to develop than the other two – we may continue to develop our adult ego state throughout the whole of our lives. It is a state that we choose (unlike the parent and child, which are automatic/ reactive states). In the adult state we take data from our parent and our child states and we check it out, interpret it and come to a rational conclusion.
Typical adult behaviours include being open to the input of others, reflecting on data and testing out ideas, being objective, rational and responsible. The adult seeks to share responsibility and control with others.
Summary
Each of our ego states has a value to us and we are not trying to suggest that you should stop being a child or a parent, however the more we can all embrace the adult ego state, the more we can behave and respond from a position of rational choice: this is the ultimate in taking personal responsibility e.g. having the ability to choose our response to any situation that we are faced with.
The principle of having adult-to-adult relationships with staff is the way that most organisations are encouraging their managers to behave as it creates a more motivated, responsible and fulfilled workforce.
Ego States Questionnaire
The following questionnaire will probably take you 10 to 15 minutes to complete. The accuracy of the results depends on how honest you can be. If unsure what the statement means either ask or guess. As long as you do not guessed all of them it should be fine. Please do not discuss with your colleagues.
If you agree more than you disagree with a statement – tick it.
If you disagree more that you agree – cross it ‘X’.
Be sure to mark every item with a tick or a cross.
Ego States Questionnaire
1. / Teenagers would benefit if they tried to learn from the experience of their elders.
2. / I enjoy fast driving
3. / Generally l manage to keep a calm appearance even though l am upset inside.
4. / There are too few people nowadays with enough courage to stand up for what is right.
5. / People tending to be ‘bossy’ actually lack self-confidence though they may not realise it.
6. / I do not like it when people are not clear about what l say and ask me to repeat it.
7. / Good leaders enable people to give their best rather than seek the best for themselves.
8. / There is too much sex and violence on TV nowadays.
9. / In my opinion it is healthy to discuss freely: sex, bodily functions, intimacy etc.
10. / I find it difficult to stick to a diet, quit smoking etc.
11. / In my opinion speed limits should be strongly enforced.
12. / Parents tend to be too permissive these days.
13. / I believe that absolute openness and honesty with others is possible.
14. / In my opinion, 95% of life’s important decisions are based on feelings.
15. / Too many people nowadays allow others to push them around too much.
16. / Although most people are not, l seem quite comfortable with long periods of silence.
17. / I can recall situations where as a child, older people made me feel ashamed.
18. / Some times, the physical punishment of children is needed for their own good.
19. / We need more rather than less censorship on the movies, TV, magazines etc.
20. / Even with strangers l seldom feel bored, impatient or lonely.
21. / I know that sometimes l ought to eat and drink less than l do.
22. / The good opinion of others is important.
23. / My parents encouraged my exploring and learning things for myself.
24. / I get uncomfortable when something unexpected happens.
25. / Even if one feels life is not worth living no one is justified in committing suicide.
26. / I try to attend many courses, seminars, lectures etc.
27. / Sometimes l tell myself, ‘Shut up you are talking too much’.
28. / If divorce laws were more stringent, marriage would be considered more seriously.
29. / I seldom, if ever blush.
30. / Most mistakes result from misunderstanding rather than carelessness.
31. / Tense situations make me feel uncomfortable enough to do something about them.
32. / Most youngsters would benefit from obligatory military service.
33. / Many times l have had to change my strong convictions as a result of new information.
34. / Humility is one of the virtues, perhaps the greatest one.
35. / Shaven heads seem to compensate for small brains these days.
36. / Experience is useful, but usually need be modified by new facts and information.
37. / Marriages between people from different ethnic backgrounds are headed for trouble.
38. / All work and no play adds up to a dull life, and that is not the way l wanted to live.
39. / Sometimes l hear myself say,’l do not make the rules, l just follow them.’
40. / You cannot change human nature.
41. / I do not believe there needs to be inevitable conflict between organisation and individual.
42. / Sometimes l get so discouraged l want to run away.
43. / Capital punishment should never be completely done away with.
44. / People should attend church more often.
45. / I like to evaluate the consequences as closely as possible before making a decision.
46. / I am concerned about the approval of others.
47. / I like to run things, be the boss of the situation and take charge.
48. / Even socially, l will often discuss business or gather data from magazines and books.
49. / Being a subordinate is not that good, but it is better than being the boss.
50. / I quickly become bored with a situation.
51. / I believe that society would be better off if the laws were more rigorously enforced.
52. / If l am ashamed, or so sad, l cry even when others are around.
53. / When l think people are wrong or stupid l say so.
54. / I envy people who quit their careers in order to start a new lifestyle.
55. / I just cannot trust people like many seem to do.
56. / Even though there may be a standard approach to a situation – l like to find new ways.
57. / I put things off until they can’t be put off any longer.
58. / I am inclined to challenge others by enquiring and becoming aggressive.
59. / Most people are capable of sustained self-direction and control.
60. / Physical activities like gardening, swimming, sex etc make me feel good all over.
61. / I get angry or disturbed with someone l think is submissive, compromising etc.
Ego States Scoring
Score one point for each item marked with a tick. There are no points for items marked with a cross. Add up the column total and enter in the boxes.
1 / 32 / 3 / 2
4 / 35 / 7 / 6
5 / 37 / 9 / 10
8 / 40 / 13 / 14
11 / 43 / 16 / 17
12 / 44 / 20 / 21
15 / 47 / 23 / 24
18 / 50 / 26 / 27
19 / 51 / 29 / 31
22 / 53 / 30 / 34
25 / 55 / 33 / 39
28 / 58 / 36 / 42
61 / 38 / 46
41 / 49
45 / 54
48 / 57
52 / 60
56
59
Caring parent / Critical parent / Adult / Child
/ / /
Parent / Adult / Child
Ego States Profiling
Plot your total score for Parent, Adult and Child on the three calibrated axis below and join the adjacent points with straight lines. This illustrates your PAC profile.
16-
14-
12-
10-
08-
06-
04- /
16-
14-
12-
10-
08-
06- /
12-
10-
08-
06-
05-
03-
Parent / Adult / Child
5 – Transactional Analysis – further information
Here follows a model further developed (by Mountain Associates) based on the Susannah Temple version of the Transactional Analysis descriptive model.
The model shows how we function or behave with others. The model used here is divided into nine parts and again we have used Susannah Temple's (1999) term 'mode' as it differentiates it from the structural ego state model mentioned previously.
We have adapted the Susannah Temple 1999 model, diagram, and some terms, and have coloured the different modes in red and green for those who find colour helpful as a tool.
Effective communication comes from the green modes, (just as with traffic lights we get the go ahead when the green light comes on), and ineffective communication come from the red modes (as with the red traffic light).
When we come (communicate) from the red modes we invite a negative response, and a positive response from the green modes.
© Diagram - Mountain Associates 2009 - adapted from Susannah Temple's 1999 model.
Ineffective modes – red modes
The red zones all emanate from outdated experiences.
Criticising Mode - communicates a "You're not OK" message. When in this mode you will believe that others cannot do things as well as you can, or perhaps only some certain chosen people can. If you lead from this position you are unlikely to develop a loyal supportive team or culture.
Over-Indulging / Inconsistent Mode - communicates "You're not OK". When in this mode we often 'rescue' others, that is, do things for them which they are capable of doing for themselves. As a leader we might also be inconsistent in our style - changing our behaviour in unpredictable and apparently random ways.
Compliant / Resistant Mode - expresses an "I'm not OK" or "I'm not OK” and “You're Not OK" message. When in this mode we over-adapt to others and tend to experience such emotions as depression or unrealistic fear and anxiety. Even when 'resisting' we are not actually free to think for ourselves as we are reacting to someone and believing that we need to 'resist'. When in this mode we are unlikely to make good team members and will be highly stressed if we have to manage others.
Immature Mode - in this mode we run wild with no boundaries. Here we express a "You're not OK" message. At work we tend to not to take responsibility for our actions and are unlikely to progress as we need a great deal of management in order to focus our energy and keep boundaries.
Effective modes – green modes
Accounting Mode - communicates "We're OK" messages. This mode operates appropriately in the here-and-now and has integrated the positive aspects of the historic parenting and the archaic childhood experiences. As this mode is here-and-now we choose which of the other effective aspects or modes of behaviour to draw from, dependent on the situation. When stable in this mode we respond appropriately rather than flipping into an archaic or historic mode.
Incorporated Aspects of the Accounting Mode - All of the different incorporated aspects communicate "I'm OK and You're OK".
Nurturing - When in this aspect we are caring and affirming.
Structuring - This is the boundary setting aspect, offering constructive criticism. In this aspect we are caring whilst firm.
Cooperative - From this aspect we learn the rules to help us live with others.
Playful - This is the creative, fun loving, curious and energetic aspect. We can confront people playfully as a way of dealing with a difficult situation. This can diffuse a potential problem and get the message across.
Words are triggers. Be sure when you use words that you know what reaction you are looking for, and what reaction you might get.
The words you use:
Critical / Structuring Parent / Over indulgent/ nurturing Parent / Adult
GREEN MODE / Immature/ Playful Child / Compliant/ co-operative Child
Always
Must
Should
If l were you / Don’t worry
That’s fine
Good
Nice / How, what
I see
In my opinion
Interesting
Possibly
Why / Want
Won’t
I feel
Now
Wow! / I wonder
Can’t
Wish
I’m afraid
Sorry
Tone – the way you say the words can emphasise or contradict their meaning:
Critical / Structuring Parent / Over indulgent/ nurturing Parent / Adult
GREEN MODE / Immature/ Playful Child / Compliant/ co-operative Child
Critical
Condescending
Sighing
Disgusted / Concerned
Warm
Comforting
Caring / Even, precise
Questioning
Calm / Loud
Happy
Energetic
Enthusiastic / Whining
Worried
Angry
Attitude – the words you use and the way you say them reveal attitudes:
Critical / Structuring Parent / Over indulgent/ nurturing Parent / Adult
GREEN MODE / Immature/ Playful Child / Compliant/ co-operative Child
Authorisation
Censuring
Moralistic / Caring
Loving
Interested / Observant
Clarifying
Evaluating / Curious
Impulsive
Changeable / Compliant
Pleading
Demanding
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