Transactional Analysis (TA) can be defined as many things. First and foremost it is a philosophy that begins with the belief that each of us is fundamentally OK, whilst also expressing a point of view and a description of people which gives us an understanding of the structure of personality.
“An ever-expanding system of related techniques designed to help people understand and change their feelings and behaviors.”Woollams and Brown, 1978
Eric Berne began to develop the theory of TA before 1958, when his first articles containing the principles of TA and its concepts were published. His first book, Transactional Analysis in Psychotherapy, was published in 1961. This laid out a theory of personality and interpersonal relationships; his works extended over thirty-two years, including seven books and fifty articles, transcripts and papers (Stewart, 1992).
Berne described TA primarily as “a unified system of individual and social psychiatry”, because of his extensive work within the psychiatric community with both individuals and groups. In its strictest sense, the term transactional analysis was used by Berne to denote the analysis of transactions. In Transactional Analysis in Psychotherapy (1961) he described TA as structural and transactional analysis offering a systematic, consistent theory of personality and social dynamics derived from clinical experience, and an actionistic, rational form of therapy suitable for, easily understood by, and naturally adapted to the great majority of psychiatric patients.
TA Today (Stewart & Joines, 1987) describes TA, as defined by the ITAA (International Transactional Analysis Association), as “a theory of psychotherapy for personal growth and personal change”. Stewart and Joines go on to say it is a theory of personality which uses a three-part model known as the ego state model, which helps us understand how people function and express their personality in terms of behaviour.
Briefly, TA also provides us with a theory of communication and a method for analysing systems and organisations. It offers a theory of child development, and the concept of life script — explaining how we are influenced by our history and the decisions we make about ourselves, others and the world because of it. It offers explanations as to how we continue to repeat patterns of behaviour that may be self-defeating.