Transactional Analysis Theory - Life Positions

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Life Positions

The term life position is also known as existential position or basic life position. Berne writes that early in life, a child as an infant decides its life roles in a primitive way. The child’s decision is usually mythical and not realistic. The decision determines whether the child as a grown up will be a winner or a losser. The winner retains value, worth, esteem as a person, and a good self image. The person proves to be a survivor. The loser is deprived of these attributes. Once decided, the life role sticks for life. The life role determines how one perceives oneself, perceives others and perceives the world at large. The outcome is also in terms of how one thinks, feels, acts, behaves and relates in these orientation. The life roles are described by Berne as being 'hammer or anvil', 'bite or bitten' and 'swallow or swallowed'. They are, as they seem to be, extreme 'either' 'or' roles, meaning 'one up' or 'one down'.

An example: Triplets were born to a couple. All three were boys. The father was a strict disciplinarian. The mother was kind and nurturing. She was usually a silent spectator when father disciplined the children. They were treated alike. The elder of the three thought this: "My dad wants me to be a good person. So I must study well and make a high mark in life." He grows to be a doctor. The second one thinks this: "I am incapable. My father beats me for nothing. I will 'just be' in life, and let time pass." He turns out to be a good for nothing bum. In time he becomes a liability to others at home. The third one thinks this: "I am beaten for nothing. I will show them what it is to treat children like this. I will give them a difficult time." He turns out to be a street bouncer. Each one of them decides their life plan. How they are going to live their lives. They take their life position, as being an orientation toward self, toward others and toward life generally.

The life positions contribute to maintaining psychological inertia and homeostasis of the psychic organisation.  Psychological inertia is demonstrated by resistance to change or shift from one position to another. Homeostasis is demonstrated by the psychic system maintaining its stability.  

Life position is reflected in terms of OK-ness. Being OK means having worth, value, respect, dignity and capacity for esteem as persons. Berne asserts that we all are born OK. Life positions are generated primarily in 'I vis-a-vis I' and 'I vis-a-vis You' orientations. In a larger perspective I becomes we, and you becomes they. These are shown in the diagram in figure 22.

 

Figure 22

These positions are charted in a diagram with x-axis representing 'I' and y-axis representing 'You' as shown in figure 23. These are then converted into a diagram of four quadrants as shown in figure 24.

Figure 23                                        gurFigure 24re 23

These quadrants are numbered, named and operation from each quadrant is indicated. It then forms the OK Grid which in TA literature is called the OK Corral.

The four positions are healthy, depressive, paranoid and futility. While the first of these is not linked to script, the other three are. Maintaining these positions helps maintain homeostasis of the script and is also the reason why people play games. The OK Grid is given in figure 25.

Figure 25

Explanations of the four positions:

1. Healthy position: Persons experience themselves as being comfortable with themselves, others and the prevailing situation from the Healthy Position. Life is manageable. So the operation from this position is to 'Get On With' (GOW).

2. Depressive position: From the depressive position persons experience themselves as being uncomfortable with themselves. They find others and situations vested with power. So they are one down to others and to prevailing situations. So they make an effort to withdraw and be with themselves. The operation from this position is to 'Get Away From' (GAW).

3. Paranoid position: From the paranoid position persons experience themselves to be comfortable with themselves. They find themselves vested with power. They find others lacking in power. They are good at handling situations. So they are one up to others and to the prevailing situations. They tend to put others on the firing line so to say. So the operation from this position is to 'Get Rid Of' (GRO).

4. Futility Position: From the futility position persons experience themselves as not being comfortable with themselves. They also find that others and the situation of life is not good. They do not find themselves comfortable with any of the three. They experience despair, hopelessness and feel helpless and sunk. So the operation from this position is 'Get No Where' (GNW)

A vast majority of us experience ourselves being in one of the four positions from time to time. It is evident not only when we are spending time with others, it is also evident when we are spending time with ourselves. When we are reflecting about what to do, how to do, how best to respond, how best to get things done, weighing pros and cons, exploring how best to end a situation, solve a problem, overcome some difficulty or condition or cope with a challenge, we happen to occupy one of the three unhealthy positions. We may then spend time in fantasies and autistic thinking. Such thinking is classified as psychological time engagement. We lose our connect with the here-now. Charting time spent in the four positions generates a corralogram.

We maintain psychological inertia and homeostasis of the script by maintaining one of the three unhealthy positions, and we also fulfil position hunger.

TA literature suggests ways to be in charge by using simple formulations. It calls on us to do everything possible to change the things that are possible by exerting ourselves to the maximum. If that is not working or it is not possible or feasible in the moment, then the alternative suggested is to wait patiently for better times to come our way. If we are overtaken by urges, drives and impulses it suggests we wait, postpone action and be patient waiting for the tide to turn our way. Then when the opportunity does come, to act quickly and decisively.

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Corralogram 

Corralogram is a drawing which shows the time one spends in each of the four quadrants of diagram. It provides a visual representation of the time we generally spend in the four life positions. It looks as shown on the left in figure 26.

Figure 26

The corrologram aids in bringing change. Working with conscious Adult awareness is the key. In the figure on the left it appears that the person spends much of his time in Depressive Position. If this person desires to bring change he gets himself to spend more time in positions on the right of the diagram. Change of this type is admirable.

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