{"id":5253,"date":"2020-05-19T01:29:01","date_gmt":"2020-05-18T23:29:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.inkovema.de\/?p=5253"},"modified":"2020-11-27T09:29:13","modified_gmt":"2020-11-27T08:29:13","slug":"the-concept-of-psychological-games-in-transactional-analysis-part-1-basics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.inkovema.de\/en\/blog\/the-concept-of-psychological-games-in-transactional-analysis-part-1-basics\/","title":{"rendered":"The concept of psychological games in transactional analysis – Part 1: Basics"},"content":{"rendered":"

The concept of psychological games in transactional analysis<\/h1>\n

Part 1: Basics<\/h1>\n

Definition, function and benefits, intensities and degrees of play<\/h2>\n<\/div>

The psychological games are a Concept of transactional analysis<\/strong><\/em>which deals with communicative patterns of a manipulative nature. Most of these psychological games are destructive in nature. Eric Berne, the founder of transactional analysis, was instrumental in developing this concept and his – bestseller – Games People Play„ (1964) was instrumental in bringing about the early success of transactional analysis as a school of humanistic psychology.<\/p>\n

A short series of articles on the psychological games of transactional analysis:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/span>Part 1: Basics (definition, function and benefits as well as the intensity and levels of play)<\/span><\/a><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/span>Part 2: Procedure and forms of presentation of psychological games (drama triangle and game formulae according to Berne and Christoph-Lemke)<\/span><\/a><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/span>Part 3: Embedding psychological games in the conceptual landscape of transactional analysis<\/span><\/a><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/span>Part 4: Practical conflict counselling in the face of psychological games (invitations, termination options)<\/span><\/a><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/span>Part 5: Selected psychological games in conflict counselling (courtroom; turmoil; overloaded; if you weren't, etc.)<\/span><\/a><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>

As a concept for Analysing transaction patterns<\/i><\/b> it is a part of the Transactional analysis in the narrower sense<\/i><\/b>. The term is not to be understood in an everyday or sporting sense, but is intended to emphasise the regularity and exemplary nature of communication processes.<\/p>\n<\/div>

1. definition<\/h2>\n

Berne said:<\/p>\n

\n

\"A game consists of a continuous Consequence of hidden complementary transactions that lead to a very specific, predictable result<\/i><\/b>…a periodically recurring sequence of frequently repeated transactions, seemingly plausible on the surface, yet dominated by hidden motives;<\/i><\/b> Colloquially, it can also be described as a series of individual actions connected with a trap or a deceptive trick.\" (Adult games, p. 57)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

I will go into more detail about Bernes' idea of psychological games in the course of this series of articles, but I would like to emphasise here that he defined the dual character of the transactions, the overt and covert levels of communication, as a decisive indication of a psychological game.<\/p>\n<\/div>

2. function and benefits<\/h2>\n

The function and benefits of psychological games are diverse, although they are often in the unconscious realm of the players. Nevertheless, benefits can be categorised and assigned to different dimensions:<\/p>\n

There are<\/p>\n