Eric Berne

Games People Play

1. IDEA 1

   People have three ego states

   Berne developed transactional analysis, which describes three ego states in every person: the Parent, which copies rules and attitudes learned from parents; the Adult, which reasons about the present; and the Child, which carries feelings and impulses from childhood.

2. IDEA 2

   Conversations are transactions

   Berne describes each exchange between people as a transaction from one ego state to another. Problems arise when transactions cross, such as when an Adult question gets a Child reaction.

3. IDEA 3

   People need recognition

   Berne uses the word strokes for units of recognition, like a smile or a compliment. People need strokes and will seek even negative ones if positive ones are missing. Berne presents this as a basic human need for attention from others.

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