transactional analysis (TA) /-ak′shənəl/ [L, transigere, to drive through; Gk, analyein, to loosen] , a form of psychodynamic psychotherapy developed by Eric Berne, based on a role theory that three different coherent organized egos exist throughout life simultaneously in every person, representing the child, the adult, and the parent. Interactions between people are transactions, originating from a person in one of the ego states, and received by another person who may be in a complementary or a crossed ego state. Transactions are motivated by a need for recognition and contact called “strokes.” Transactions occur in six kinds of “time structure”: withdrawal, rituals, pastimes, games, activities, and intimacy. The way in which a person structures time reflects internal conflicts and patterns adopted to cope with those conflicts. The goal of transactional analysis is to enable clients to communicate from the ego state appropriate to the situation and the responses of the individuals, thereby decreasing conflict.
