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Transactional Analysis Page

Transactional Analysis was created by psychotherapist Dr. Eric Berne [1910-1970]
from his independent studies in the Fifties, resulting in academic papers defining T/A that were published in 1957 & 1958.
His most famous book [and phrase] was "Games People Play" [1964].

Transactional Analysis can be thought of as a cube, with six faces:
  • Structural Analysis: the Parent, Adult, and Child ego states, and the transactions between them

  • Game Theory {see WMail Essay #17 {Nov 2001}: "Game Theory In A Nutshell"}

  • Okay/Not Okay: the four patterns of esteem for self and others

  • Time Structure {see WMail Essay #38 {Dec 2003}: "Time Structure"}

  • Script Analysis: how children unconsciously choose a common myth or story as the model for their future, then forget it,
    leaving the adult taking action based on a plan for life of which he/she is not consciously aware

  • Stroke Economy: the innate human need for 'strokes', which can be 'warm & fuzzy' or 'cold & prickly'; and
    Trading Stamps: how people collect certain types of 'trading stamps' from life, and when they have enough of them,
    they are 'entitled' to a particular prize {see WMail Essay #61 {July 2006}: "Non-Monetary Economics"}

An original summary of Transactional Analysis, with emphasis on Game Theory & Time Structure
will be found in Chapters 11 & 12 of "Working Minds: A Philosophy of Empowerment".




Dr. Eric Berne [1910-70]
Dr. Eric Berne [1910-70]  
Dr. Berne official website
I.T.A.A.'s Eric Berne history page
Eric Berne entry at Wikipedia

browse books by Eric Berne at Amazon

Dr. Eric Berne [1910-1970] grew up in Montréal, Québec, Canada and received his MD degree from McGill University in 1935. He completed his psychiatric training in the United States and then entered the U.S. Army as a psychiatrist. After the war, he moved to Carmel, California and continued his work as a psychiatrist, but felt increasingly frustrated with the psychoanalytic approaches of the time. As a result, he began developing a new and revolutionary theory, which he called Transactional Analysis. In 1958, he published the paper "Transactional Analysis: A New and Effective Method of Group Therapy" in which he outlined this new approach. In 1964 he published "Games People Play", which became an international bestseller. That same year he founded the International Transactional Analysis Association. He continued to lead an active life as a prominent psychiatrist and bestselling author until his death in 1970.

“We are born princes and the civilizing process makes us frogs.”

“The destiny of every human being is decided by what goes on inside his skull when confronted by what goes on outside his skull.”

“Each person designs his own life, freedom gives him the power to carry out his own designs,
and power gives the freedom to interfere with the designs of others.”

— Dr. Eric Berne

Eric Berne, Master Gamesman  "Eric Berne, Master Gamesman: A Transactional Biography" [1984]
by Elizabeth & Henry Jorgensen

Grove Press hardcover [9/84] out of print/rare
Grove Press hardcover [9/84] out of print/rare
Eric Berne biography by Ian Stewart  "Eric Berne" biography [1992] by Ian Stewart
SAGE Publns 8½x5½ pb [4/92] for $50.04
SAGE Publns 9x5¾ hardcover [4/92] out of print/used
'A Montreal Childhood' book by Eric Berne  "A Montreal Childhood" memoir [2010]
by Eric Berne; Epilogue by Terry Berne, Afterword by Claude Steiner

Kindle Edition from Editorial Jeder [9/2016] for $7.30
CreateSpace 8½x5½ pb [7/2010] for $18.20
Editorial Jeder Spanish-language edition 8½x5½ pb [12/2013] for $16.00



Dr. Claude M. Steiner, PhD
was a student of Dr. Berne for many years, and after Berne's death in June 1970, Steiner wrote
"Scripts People Live", a wonderful summary of T/A that is still in print after 40 years.
browse booksauthor's official websiteentry at Wikipedia

Scripts People Live by Claude Steiner  highly recommended and finally on Kindle !
"Scripts People Live: Transactional Analysis of Life Scripts" [1974]
by Claude M. Steiner

Kindle Edition from Grove Press [2007 edition] for $9.99
Bantam Books mass pb [1975] out of print/used
Grove Press 9x6 pb [12/90] for $15.76
Grove Press 9¼x6¼ hardcover [1974] out of print/many used
Original Warm Fuzzy Tale book (orange fuzzy cover) by Claude M. Steiner  Original Warm Fuzzy Tale book (red cover) by Claude M. Steiner  "The Original Warm Fuzzy Tale" [1977]
by Claude Steiner, with Pictures by JoAnn Dick

Jalmar Press 9x6 pb [1/83] out of print/used
Jalmar Press 9x6 pb [1/83] out of print/used
Jalmar Press 9x6 pb [1/79] out of print/used
The Other Side of Power book by Claude M. Steiner  "The Other Side of Power: How To Become Powerful Without Being
Power-Hungry" [1981] by Claude M. Steiner

Grove Press 8x5¼ pb [8/81] out of print/many used
Achieving Emotional Literacy book by Claude Steiner PhD   "Achieving Emotional Literacy: A Personal Program To Increase Your
Emotional Intelligence" [11/1997]
by Claude Steiner PhD, with Paul Perry

PUB pb [8/00] for $0.00
hardcover [8/00] for $0.00 out of print/used
Emotional Literacy book by Claude Steiner  "Emotional Literacy: Intelligence With A Heart" [2003] by Claude Steiner
Kindle Edition from Personhood Press [2003 edition] for $9.99
Personhood Press 8x5 pb [11/2003] for $17.60



Alvyn M. Freed, PhD [1913-93]
wrote the "Transactional Analysis for Everybody" book series in the 70s & 80s
browse booksbrowse "Transactional Analysis for Everybody Series" books

T.A. For Kids book by Alvyn & Margaret Freed  "T.A. For Kids (and Grown-Ups Too): Powerful Techniques For Developing Self-esteem" [ages 9 & up; 1971]
by Alvyn M. & Margaret Freed

Jalmar Press pb [12/85] out of print/used
Jalmar Press 11x8½ pb [10/77] for $17.25
Jalmar Press 10¾x8¼ pb [1971] out of print/used
T.A. for Tots book by Alvyn Freed   "T.A. For Tots: And Other Prinzes" [1974]
by Alvyn M. Freed PhD, Illustrated by Donna Ferreri & JoAnn Dick

Jalmar Press 11x8¼ new revised edition pb [10/91] for $19.95
Volume 1: Jalmar Press 8x10¾ pb [1983] out of print/used
Volume 2: Jalmar Press 7½x10¾ pb [12/85] out of print/used
Jalmar Press 8x10½ pb [1974] out of print/used
T.A. for Teens book by Alvyn M. Freed & Regina Faul-Jansen  "T.A. For Teens and Other Important People" [1976]
by Alvyn M. Freed & Regina Faul-Jansen

Jalmar Press 10¾x8¼ pb [10/76] out of print/used
Jalmar Press 10¾x8¼ pb [10/76] out of print/used



search for books about Transactional Analysis {returns 2,700+ titles} on Amazon

Books by Dr. Berne
browse books by Eric Berne at Amazon

"The Mind In Action" [1947] by Eric Berne
http://www.amazon.com/Mind-Action-Eric-Berne-ebook/dp/B00CIX2QDQ/
http://www.amazon.com/Mind-Action-Eric-Berne/dp/B0006DCWPW/
http://www.amazon.com/Mind-Action-Berne-Eric-M-D/dp/B002JYK0GO/

"Transactional Analysis In Psychotherapy: A Systematic Individual and Social Psychiatry" [1958] by Eric Berne, MD
http://www.amazon.com/Transactional-Analysis-Psychotherapy-Systematic-Individual/dp/B001DX5V5C/ = 1961
http://www.amazon.com/Transactional-Analysis-Psychotherapy-Principles-Paperback/dp/B00IJ0SUZA/
http://www.amazon.com/Transactional-Analysis-Psychotherapy-Market-Paperback/dp/B00SB1XAFM/
http://www.amazon.com/Analyse-transactionnelle-psychoth%C3%A9rapie-Eric-Berne/dp/2228894257/

Games People Play book by Eric Berne  a classic & bestseller, still in print after 50 years
"Games People Play: The Basic Handbook of Transactional Analysis" [1964]
by Eric Berne, MD

Ballantine Books 8¼x5½ pb [8/96] for $8.62
Ballantine Books mass pb [3/85] out of print/many, many used
Grove Press 8x5½ hardcover [1964] out of print/many, many used
book entry at Wikipedia
http://www.amazon.com/Games-People-Play-Psychology-Relationships/dp/B000U3I37O/
http://www.amazon.com/Games-People-Play-Psychology-Relationships/dp/0233958223/
http://www.amazon.com/Eric-Berne-Games-People-Play/dp/B00SCUEGSM/ audio
http://www.amazon.com/Eric-Berne-Handbook-Transactional-Analysis/dp/B005YPIA08/
http://www.amazon.com/Spiele-Erwachsenen-German-Eric-Berne/dp/3499613506/

"The Structure and Dynamics of Organizations and Groups" [1966] by Eric Berne
http://www.amazon.com/Structure-Dynamics-Organizations-Groups-1975-01-01/dp/B019NRJD3A/

"A Layman's Guide To Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis" [1968] by Eric Berne, MD
http://www.amazon.com/Laymans-Guide-Psychiatry-Psychoanalysis-ebook/dp/B005DNSSCQ/
http://www.amazon.com/Laymans-Guide-Psychiatry-Psychoanalysis/dp/0345284720/
http://www.amazon.com/Laymans-Guide-Psychiatry-Psychoanalysis/dp/0671200402/
http://www.amazon.com/Laymans-Guide-Psychiatry-Psycho-analysis/dp/B001TP0A3M/

The Happy Valley fairy tale by Eric Berne & Sylvie Selig  "The Happy Valley" [1968] by Eric Berne, Illustrated by Sylvie Selig
A story for young people about a place where everyone is polite and happy and does what he likes best and, most important of all, still manages to satisfy his own conscience; characters include a mixed-up python, an obedient rabbit, a wise little man, a friendly sheep, a dutiful princess, an explorer, a billy goat, a kind prince, and three robbers . . .
Grove Press 10x7¼ hardcover [1968] out of print/used
Grove Press 10x7 hardcover [1968] out of print/used

"Principles of Group Treatment" [1969] by Eric Berne
http://www.amazon.com/Principles-Group-Treatment-Eric-Berne/dp/0394176030/ [6/1971]
http://www.amazon.com/Introduccion-Al-Tratamiento-Grupo-Spanish/dp/8425314097/

"What Do You Say After You Say Hello? The Psychology of Human Destiny" [1970] by Eric Berne, MD
http://www.amazon.com/After-Hello-Psychology-Human-Destiny/dp/0553102516/
http://www.amazon.com/After-Hello-Psychology-Destiny-Printing/dp/B005APMEF4/
http://www.amazon.com/Eric-Berne-What-after-hello/dp/B00SCSUYI0/
http://www.amazon.com/What-You-Say-After-Hello/dp/B00ZT13GHO/
http://www.amazon.com/Que-dites-vous-apr%C3%A8s-avoir-bonjour/dp/2710708027/

"Sex In Human Loving" [1971] by Eric Berne, MD
http://www.amazon.com/Sex-Human-Loving-Eric-Bernie/dp/0671824759/

"T/A: Transactional Analysis in Psychotherapy" [1973] by Eric Berne, MD
http://www.amazon.com/Transactional-Analysis-Psychotherapy-Eric-Berne/dp/034523555X/
http://www.amazon.com/Transactional-Analysis-Psychotherapy-Eric-Berne/dp/0285647768/
http://www.amazon.com/Transactional-Analysis-Psychotherapy-Eric-Berne/dp/0345338367/

"Intuition and Ego States: The Origins of Transactional Analysis - A Series of Papers" [1977] by Eric Berne
http://www.amazon.com/Intuition-ego-states-transactional-analysis/dp/0894890018/
http://www.amazon.com/Intuition-Ego-States-Transactional-Analysis/dp/006060784X/

"Beyond Games and Scripts: With Selections From His Major Writings" [1977] by Eric Berne
http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-games-scripts-Selections-writings/dp/0394170075/
http://www.amazon.com/Eric-Berne-Scripts-1976-12-16-Hardcover/dp/B0146V1TT4/

T/A Books by Other Authors

I'm OK, You're OK bestselling book by Thomas A. Harris  "I'm OK, You're OK: A Practical Guide To Transactional Analysis" [1969]
by Thomas A. Harris, MD

This bestselling book is a travesty! and is included here as a warning. The Harris team perverted Berne'e central concept of the ego states by making "I'm not okay, you're not OK" the natural state of human beings, which can be corrected with lots and lots of costly therapy. Wrong. Berne's statements on the matter include "We are born princes and the civilizing process makes us frogs." The context promoted by this book is that we are all just frogs wanting to be princes and princesses.
Born To Win by Muriel James  a classic & bestseller, still in print after 45 years
"Born To Win: Transactional Analysis With Gestalt Experiments" [1971]
by Muriel James EdD & Dorothy Jongeward PhD

Kindle Edition from Da Capo Press [8/2008] for $7.59
Signet mass pb [7/78] for $7.99
Addison-Wesley 8¼x5¼ pb [9/96] for $13.86
Addison-Wesley hardcover [12/71] out of print/many used
Success Through Transactional Analysis book by Jut Meininger  "Success Through Transactional Analysis: Practical Uses of T.A." [1973]
by Jut Meininger

Signet mass pb [5/74] out of print/40+ used
Grosset & Dunlap 9x6½ hardcover [1973] out of print/used
Transactional Analysis After Eric Berne book edited by Graham Barnes  "Transactional Analysis After Eric Berne: Teachings and Practices of Three T/A Schools" [1977] Edited by Graham Barnes
Harpers College Press 10x7 hardcover [8/77] out of print/used
Hello Sigmund, This Is Eric book by Louis Forman & Janelle Smith Ramsburg  "Hello Sigmund, This Is Eric: Psychoanalysis and T/A In Dialogue" [1978]
by Louis H. Forman & Janelle Smith Ramsburg, Preface by Muriel James

Andrews & McMeel 9x6 pb [1978] out of print/used
Andrews & McMeel hardcover [1978] out of print/used
New Introduction to Transactional Analysis book by Ian Stewart & Vann Joines  "T.A. Today: A New Introduction To Transactional Analysis" [1987]
by Ian Stewart & Vann Joines

Lifespace 2nd edition 8¼x5¾ pb [3/2012] out of print/many used
Lifespace 8¼x5¾ pb [6/87] out of print/50+ used
Transactional Analysis 100 Key Points & Techniques book by Mark Widdowson  "Transactional Analysis: 100 Key Points and Techniques" [2009]
by Mark Widdowson

Kindle Edition from Routledge [10/2009] for $15.31
Routledge 7½x5 pb [10/2009] for $24.65
Routledge 7¾x5¼ hardcover [10/2009] for $100.50
Introduction To Transactional Analysis book by Phil Lapworth & Charlotte Sills  "An Introduction To Transactional Analysis: Helping People Change" [2011]
by Phil Lapworth & Charlotte Sills

Kindle Edition from SAGE Publns [6/2011] for $31.20
SAGE Publns 9½x6¾ pb [6/2011] for $50.00
SAGE Publns 9¾x6¾ hardcover [rev 6/2011] out of print/used
Transactional Analysis Four Ego-States Model book by Danna G. Hallmark  "Transactional Analysis: The Four Ego-States Model" [2012] by Danna G. Hallmark
An excellent (but short) overview of your Child, Parent, Adult, and Adapted Child ego states as envisioned by the late Jut Meininger
38-page Kindle Edition from Global T/A Assocs. [8/2012] for $2.99
Global T/A Associates [est. 2012] website
Transaktionsanalyse Nach Eric Berne book by Laura Patzke  "Die Transaktionsanalyse Nach Eric Berne (T/A After Eric Berne)" [2013]
by Laura Patzke

28-page Kindle Edition from GRIN Verlag [10/2013] for $14.99
GRIN Verlag 8¼x5¾ pb [10/2013] for $22.50

"Rethinking Everything: Personal Growth Through Transactional Analysis" [4/2015] by Neil Bright
http://www.amazon.com/Rethinking-Everything-Personal-Transactional-Analysis-ebook/dp/B00VLNDVBU/
http://www.amazon.com/Rethinking-Everything-Personal-Transactional-Analysis/dp/1475808798/
http://www.amazon.com/Rethinking-Everything-Personal-Transactional-Analysis/dp/147580878X

"Born To Learn: A Transactional Analysis of Human Learning" [2/2016] by Richard John Stapleton
http://www.amazon.com/Born-Learn-Transactional-Analysis-Learning/dp/0692584331/


Bratin Chakrabarti of Poughkeepsie, New York created this half-hour video based on T/A principles

Are You OK? Transactional Analysis video  
"Are You OK?: The Essential Video On
Transactional Analysis For Everyone" [2007]

CreateSpace DVD [9/2007] for $14.99


Transactional Analysis Links
International T/A Assn. [est. 1964 by Eric Berne]
The Berne Institute in U.K.
Institute of Transactional Analysis in U.K.
U.S.A. Transactional Analysis Assn.
European Assn. of Transactional Analysis [est. 1976]
Global T/A Associates [est. 2012] in Oklahoma
French-language 'Analyse Transactionnelle' website
Western Pacific Assn. of Transactional Analysis
Claude Steiner's Transactional Analysis core concepts pages
Transactional Analysis entry at Wikipedia
Nitya Gurukula Certified Transactional Analysis Training in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

WMail Essay #17 {Nov 2001}: "Game Theory In A Nutshell"
WMail Essay #38 {Dec 2003}: "Time Structure"
WMail Essay #61 {July 2006}: "Non-Monetary Economics"


here on the Transactional Analysis & Eric Berne Page at Working Minds Philosophy of Empowerment

top of page   •   Dr. Eric Berne   •   Claude M. Steiner   •   Alvyn M. Freed   •   

books by Dr. Berne   •   T/A books by other authors   •   Transactional Analysis links

˜                    ˜

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