Transactional analysis and politics: A critical review

Abstract

This article offers a critical review of the literature on transactional analysis (TA) and politics. It discusses Eric Berne's own relationship with politics, makes some distinctions between social psychiatry and social psychology, and comments on the influence of radical psychiatry on TA—especially in the 1960s and '70s. Finally, it offers a conceptual framework that categorises the interplay between TA and politics, and gives examples of these different aspects of TA and politics.

Keith Tudor, ‘conscientious objector’

“…I am wary of what you describe accurately of colleagues' 'shocked awareness' as I think it represents something of a wilful ignorance that we (in transactional analysis) would understand as a discount at the level of the existence of the stimulus (i.e., poverty, injustice, racism, etc.) (Cornell & Tudor, 2020, p. 6) So, this article (Tudor, 2020) examines and challenges ambivalence with regard to politics within TA. Tudor picks up the earlier Bernian mantle, which, no doubt, had been influenced by the rise of Nazi Germany compelling the world to risk getting involved, and to risk being criticised given that as Berne had previously said: 'it is no longer wise for scientists to refrain from expressing strong opinions and bringing strong influence to bear in a vigorous attempt to change the trend of history' (Berne, 1947, p. 292).…”

“…In addition to dissecting the history of TA, Tudor also highlights the place of internal politics, whether that be via the structures and the procedures, the activities of the international bodies, including the long list of social and political events that supported the development of a theoretical canon in this field. For instance, many conferences ran with the themes of power and politics, such as 'Restorative processes', 'Massey's work on Freedom with Responsibility, Co-operation and Power', and many more (Tudor, 2020). All of these developed and maintained the identify of TA as a social psychology.…”

“…As Tudor (2020) states, these words 'written over 70 years ago, are still all too relevant today. The struggle-for necessary, healthy ambivalence as well as civic activism-continues' (p. 17).…”