Transactional Analysis Theory and Practice: Transactional Analysis Theory

Saturday 7 April 2018

Transactional Analysis Theory - Analysis of Games

This blog comes from Ajit Karve, BSc, BTA, a Transformational TA Coach

+919822024037; ajitpkarve@gmail.com

See the other blogs here : Table of Contents

Analysis of Games

Analysis of games is the third stage in treatment. It helps the therapist to identify the significant transactional operations (manoeuvers) a person engages in relevant to the game that he plays in his life. It is also the therapist's job to get the client to understand what happens that causes most of the distressing situations in his life. Here is a case.

Ritu and her husband Rishi used to drive out of town twice a month to meet Rishi's mother. The whole journey used to go fine except for the last leg of 10-15 minutes. It used to go like this. At or near a signal some two kilometres from their house Ritu used to ask Rishi to be careful. She used to find him weaving through the traffic. Rishi then used to tell her to mind her own business and not spoil a good day. Then Ritu would say in reply: "What has happened to you? What have I done?" He would reply: "Why are you interfering in my driving. I know it well." Then after a few interactions there would be silence. It would last the rest of the day with Rishi being out of mood. Rishi used to blame her for starting the conversation. It continued for a while till they both attended a Games Workshop. Rishi got the insight that it was not his wife that was the cause. He himself was. His weaving through the traffic close to their house was a racket behaviour. That behaviour triggered the game.

Analysis of Games can be done in many ways. They are:

John James Formula
Drama Triangle
Formal Analysis based on Advantages from Games
Formula G
Transactional Game Analysis, and
Using Symbiosis Diagrams.

John James Formula: Games represent learnt patterns of behaviours that keep happening again and again. John James calls this the Game Plan (TAJ, 3(4), 14-17, 1973). A person can discover the nature of his game by asking these questions:

1. What keeps happening over and over again;

2. How does it start?

3. What happens next?

4. And then what happens?

5. How does it end?

6. How do you feel after it ends?

We can use this formula to reveal the game of Rishi.

1. What keeps happening over and over again.

A good day is spoilt every single time I return home with my wife from a long drive.

2. How does it start?

My wife comments on my driving skills.

3. What happens next?

I defend asking her not to interfere.

4. And then what happens?

A discussion (actually an argument) ensues.

5. How does it end?

It ends with I asking my wife to mind her own business and not to interfere. A lull in our relationship lasts thereafter for the day.

6. How do you feel after it ends?

I feel angry for the rest of the day.

Drama Triangle

The drama triangle was contributed by Stephen Karpman. The drama triangle helps the therapist to map the moves people engage in. It is easy for the clients to understand without necessarily knowing TA. The complementary game Ritu and Rishi played is 'Here We Go Again'. Ritu plays 'I'm only trying to help you' and Rishi plays a variation of NIGYSOB.

Mapped on the drama triangle their moves are shown in the diagram in figure 55.

Figure 55

Game Analysis based on advantages for Rishi: Formal Game Analysis is carried out on the basis of the six advantages by playing games. They are:

Existential advantage: I'm OK, You're not OK.

Biological advantage: This helps generate the favourite types of strokes. Rishi gets strokes for being angry.

Internal Psychological Advantage: Reinforcing the belief that people do not trust me though I am good in whatever I do.

External Psychological Advantage: By being angry I can avoid getting into a heated argument. Not expressing his feelings is also his racket.

Internal Social Advantage: It helps to avoid intimacy.

External Social Advantage: It gives Rishi a topic to discuss when he speaks to our folks who visit us.

Formula G

Con: Look you are weaving through the traffic.

Gimmick: My knowing how to drive well is challenged.

Switch: Don't tell me how to do what I know well.

Cross-up: Ritu - He may hurt someone. Why does he feel offended? I only tried to help him. Rishi - Why does she interfere in my driving. I know what I'm doing.

Payoff: Ritu - sad because she is insulted and slighted though she tries to help. Rishi - angry because she cornered him.

Transactional Game Analysis

The interlocking games are shown before and after switch using Transactional Diagrams.

Figure 56

Using Symbiosis Diagrams

In symbiotic relationships or invitations for symbiotic relationships like the ones between game participants ego states are excluded. The corresponding ego states of the partner become used for maintaining stability of the script. This is shown in the diagram in figure 57.