Phenomena, Organisers and Determinants

02.15 Phenomena, Organisers and Determinants

Before we take up understanding the captioned concepts and their role in TA Theory we need to understand what ego states are. Berne has defined ego states in the Introduction of T.A.P. by describing them in three ways. Phenomenologically they are described as a coherent system of feelings related to a given subject, operationally as a set of coherent behaviour patterns, and pragmatically as a system of feelings which motivate a related set of behaviour patterns. Then quoting Penfield he mentions that two different ego states can occupy consciousness simultaneously as discrete psychological entities distinct from each other. For more read contents at Findings of Penfield. Berne admits that TA is a type of ego psychology [T.A.P. Ch. 1 The Rationale]. Then in T.A.P. Ch.1 3. The Language he writes that exteropsyche, neopsyche and archeopsyche are psychic organs, which manifest themselves phenomenologically as exteropsychic – identificatory, neopsychic – data processing and archeopsychic – regressive ego states. They are coloquially referred to as Parent, Adult and Child respectively.

Moving further, the captioned terms are explained in section 6 The Psychic Apparatus of Ch. 20 titled Theoretical and Technical Considerations of TA. The section aims to explain how Transactional Analysis personality theory is different from Freudian Personality Theory. He writes to say “Freud does not raise any question of systematic phenomenology, and it is here that structural analysis can usefully fill a gap in psychological theory, just as transactional analysis fills a gap in social theory by setting up elementary units (transactions) and larger units (games and scripts) of social action.

Here one needs to read the purpose, method and goal of structural analysis in TA Theory elaborated in Berne’s essay titled Ego States in Psychotherapy. (Intuition and Ego States – Essay 6). There he explains the origins of the formulation of the PAC based TA Theory of Personality citing the case history of Segundo. He also explains why Parent, Adult and Child are not synonymous with Superego, Ego and Id.

It makes understanding easy by covering the captioned terms in the order of determinants, organisers and phenomena.

1. Determinants : Determinants are factors (meaning features, aspects, influences and entities) which establish the programming and determine the quality of the organisers (psychic organs) and the phenomena (ego states). And, as a consequence (they by another route) they  influence any of the organisers (psychic organs) and hence the resultant phenomena (ego states). There are three contributors to the programming of the determinants. They are (a) Internal Programming (b) Probability Programming and (c) External Programming. The sources of Internal Programming are naturally occurring biological forces (indigenous biological forces – biological forces which are originating or occurring naturally). Probability Programming is generated by autonomous data processing (autonomous means based on moral duty instead of on urges, impulses, drives and desires). External programming is generated by incorporated rules and regulations, principles, beliefs, values, etcetera sourced from external sources.

2. Organisers : Organisers are psychic organs. The three types of psychic organs are already described. And,

3. Phenomena : Phenomena are ego states corresponding to the three determinants.

We can now summarise the contents. Sources of stimuli can be internal or external. They activate the psychic system structured by the organisers. The activation of the organisers is structured by the resident programming contributed by the three sources – Internal Programming, Probability Programming and External Programming afforded as constituents of the determinants. The organisers manifest phenomenologically as the Phenomena – ego states. The Phenomena are also directly influenced by the determinants as already explained.

This helped Berne to explain the anomaly displayed by Mr. Decatur, a travelling salesman. The anomaly was a split in the Adult ego state with one segment’s activation being instinctually determined corresponding to the Internal Programming of the controlling factors  and the other segment’s activation being determined by External Programming  of the controlling factors and the two in turn  affecting the effectiveness of Decatur implementing Probability Programming that his professional activity demanded.

This also helps us understand the forces at play within the neopsyche reflecting the Adult’s behaviour.

Berne then uses the explanation so far offered to review some of the ambiguities encountered in structural analysis. An ego state is the phenomenological and behavioral manifestation of the activity of a certain psychic organ - organizer. These same organs have the independent task of effectively organizing whichever determinants are most active at a given moment. This results in two parallel series, with nine simple cases: Child, with internal, probability, or external programing; Adult, with the same possibilities; and Parent, with the same possibilities.

Berne then further explains anomalies encountered in understanding or explaining the experiential phenomena displayed by the Adult. He writes as stated below:

The inference or concept of programing is particularly necessary in attempting to clarify the difficulties encountered in many instances concerning Adult ego states. One example of its usefulness here is in distinguishing between "rational" authorities and "authoritarian" authorities. A rational authority may be anyone from a dictator or monarch like King Solomon to a certain kind of traffic policeman. A common example in modern times is the overseas British or Australian colonial administrator. Their approach to native populations is typically that of a statistical data-processor, but their attitude is paternalistic and their solutions to problems are usually oriented toward the childlike aspects of their charges. This may be characterized as a Parent- programed Adult. The authoritarian authority is the dictator, big or small, as he is popularly pictured: one whose approach is primarily to inflict his will on his subjects, but who maintains an attitude of rational justification, so that his propaganda presents statistical data calculated to justify his tyranny. Since his "real Self" is Parent, "he himself" may believe what he is saying. This is the Adult-programed Parent. (For the sake of completeness, the unpredictable autocratic authority may be added, the Child-programed Roman emperors who tried to realize their archaic fantasies in unrestrained cruelty and abandon.)

On a more universal level, the ethical Adult, "Ethos," may be regarded functionally as the Parent-programed Adult, the denotation being that good mothers behave ethically toward their infants. The feeling Adult, "Pathos," may be understood as a Child-programed Adult, referring to the fact that at a certain age little brother cries when bigger brother is in pain.

Text restated in simple terms by replacing  the terms phenomena, organisers and determinants by the actual entities namely ego states, psychic organs and controlling factors. 

02.15 Ego States, Psychic Organs and Controlling Factors

Before we take up understanding the captioned concepts and their role in TA Theory we need to understand what ego states are. Berne has defined ego states in the Introduction of T.A.P. by describing them in three ways. Phenomenologically they are described as a coherent system of feelings related to a given subject, operationally as a set of coherent behaviour patterns, and pragmatically as a system of feelings which motivate a related set of behaviour patterns. Then quoting Penfield he mentions that two different ego states can occupy consciousness simultaneously as discrete psychological entities distinct from each other. For more read contents at Findings of Penfield. Berne admits that TA is a type of ego psychology [T.A.P. Ch. 1 The Rationale]. Then in T.A.P. Ch.1 3. The Language he writes that exteropsyche, neopsyche and archeopsyche are psychic organs, which manifest themselves phenomenologically as exteropsychic – identificatory, neopsychic – data processing and archeopsychic – regressive ego states. They are coloquially referred to as Parent, Adult and Child respectively.

Moving further, the captioned terms are explained in section 6 The Psychic Apparatus of Ch. 20 titled Theoretical and Technical Considerations of TA. The section aims to explain how Transactional Analysis personality theory is different from Freudian Personality Theory. He writes to say “Freud does not raise any question of systematic phenomenology, and it is here that structural analysis can usefully fill a gap in psychological theory, just as transactional analysis fills a gap in social theory by setting up elementary units (transactions) and larger units (games and scripts) of social action.

Here one needs to read the purpose, method and goal of structural analysis in TA Theory elaborated in Berne’s essay titled Ego States in Psychotherapy. (Intuition and Ego States – Essay 6). There he explains the origins of the formulation of the PAC based TA Theory of Personality citing the case history of Segundo. He also explains why Parent, Adult and Child are not synonymous with Superego, Ego and Id.

It makes understanding easy by covering the captioned terms in the order of controlling factors, psychic organd and ego states.

1. Controlling Factors : The controlling factors are factors (meaning features, aspects, influences and entities) which establish the programming and determine the quality of the psychic organs and the ego states. And, as a consequence (they by another route) they influence any of the psychic organs and hence the resultant ego states. There are three contributors to the programming of the controlling factors. They are (a) Internal Programming (b) Probability Programming and (c) External Programming. The sources of Internal Programming are naturally occurring biological forces (indigenous biological forces – biological forces which are originating or occurring naturally). Probability Programming is generated by autonomous data processing (autonomous means based on moral duty instead of on urges, impulses, drives and desires). External programming is generated by incorporated rules and regulations, principles, beliefs, values, etcetera sourced from external sources.

2. Psychic Organs : There are three types of psychic organs. They are the exteropsyche, the neopsyche and the archeopsyche. And,

3. Ego States : The ego states corresponding to the three psychic organs are Parent - exteropsychic ego states, Adult - neopsychic ego states and Child - archeopsychic ego states.

We can now summarise the contents. Sources of stimuli can be internal or external. They activate the psychic system structured by the psychic organs. The activation of the psychic organs is structured by the resident programming contributed by the elements of the controlling factors – Internal Programming, Probability Programming and External Programming afforded as constituents of the controlling factors. The psychic organs manifest phenomenologically as the ego states. The ego states are also directly influenced by the controlling factors as already explained.

This helped Berne to explain the anomaly displayed by Mr. Decatur, a travelling salesman. The anomaly was a split in the Adult ego state with one segment’s activation being instinctually determined corresponding to the Internal Programming of the Determinant and the other segment’s activation being externally programmed and the two affecting the effectiveness of Decatur implementing Probability Programming that his professional activity demanded.

This also helps us understand the forces at play within the neopsyche reflecting the Adult’s behaviour.

Berne then uses the explanation so far offered to review some of the ambiguities encountered in structural analysis. An ego state is the phenomenological and behavioral manifestation of the activity of a certain psychic organ. These same organs have the independent task of effectively organizing whichever controlling factors are most active at a given moment. This results in two parallel series, with nine simple cases: Child, with internal, probability, or external programing; Adult, with the same possibilities; and Parent, with the same possibilities.

Berne then further explains anomalies encountered in understanding or explaining the experiential phenomena displayed by the Adult. He writes as stated below:

The inference or concept of programing is particularly necessary in attempting to clarify the difficulties encountered in many instances concerning Adult ego states. One example of its usefulness here is in distinguishing between "rational" authorities and "authoritarian" authorities.

A rational authority may be anyone from a dictator or monarch like King Solomon to a certain kind of traffic policeman. A common example in modern times is the overseas British or Australian colonial administrator. Their approach to native populations is typically that of a statistical data-processor, but their attitude is paternalistic and their solutions to problems are usually oriented toward the childlike aspects of their charges. This may be characterized as a Parent- programed Adult. The authoritarian authority is the dictator, big or small, as he is popularly pictured: one whose approach is primarily to inflict his will on his subjects, but who maintains an attitude of rational justification, so that his propaganda presents statistical data calculated to justify his tyranny. Since his "real Self" is Parent, "he himself" may believe what he is saying. This is the Adult-programed Parent. (For the sake of completeness, the unpredictable autocratic authority may be added, the Child-programed Roman emperors who tried to realize their archaic fantasies in unrestrained cruelty and abandon.)

On a more universal level, the ethical Adult, "Ethos," may be regarded functionally as the Parent-programed Adult, the denotation being that good mothers behave ethically toward their infants. The feeling Adult, "Pathos," may be understood as a Child-programed Adult, referring to the fact that at a certain age little brother cries when bigger brother is in pain. And the reality testing Adult, "Logos" programmed by incorporated uninfluenced experiences and evaluations lent by the preconscious.