An Example of a TA Game

 

An analysis from the Transaction Analysis (TA) perspective of a typical game as played by a married couple. Games are motivated at the unconscious level.

 

Background Information

 
Both Fred's and Jane's life script tend to make them discount Fred's abilities to solve his problems.

Fred was much younger that his sisters, and his Mum was a bit clingy and over-protective. As a child, Fred decided that the females knew best. However, he has always resented the bad decisions that women have made for him.

Jane was quite a bit older than her brothers, her Dad was needy, and her Mum was absent. As a child, she decided that her role was to look after the men around her. However, whatever she did for her Dad was never good enough, so she always suspects that she will never be good enough in the end.

 

Fred and Jane's Game

 
Each row in the table shows a single message from either Fred or Jane, together with an analysis from the TA perspective of what is going on at an unconscious level.

FRED JANE ANALYSIS
Fred comes home, sits down heavily, buries his head in his hands, and sighs deeply.   The opening gambit of a game is called the 'Con'.
  Jane asks, "What's the matter, dear?" Jane buys into the Con with her 'Gimmick'.
"I'm already up to my eyeballs in work, and now the boss has asked me to write a report for the board meeting Monday morning."   Fred's ulterior message is, "Help me solve this problem."
  "Why don't you delegate some of the less critical work?" 'Why don't you … Yes, but …' is a classic set of transactions. They are usually repeated three or four times.
"Yes, but all my employees are also up to their eyeballs."  
  "Why don't you ask the boss which tasks he would like you to put aside in favour of the report?"
"Yes, but he is too busy preparing himself for the board meeting."  
  "Why don't you ask a colleague to help?"
"Yes, but they are all too busy at the moment."  
  Eventually, Jane runs out of suggestions Fred gets in touch with the unconscious anger he feels towards women. He thinks, "They're always trying to control me!"
Fred looks up sharply, and says, "For goodness sake!"   There is a moment of confusion, called the 'Crossup'.
Fred walks to the door and opens it. Just before walking through the door and slamming it, he says, "I should have known it would have been a complete waste of time asking for help from a woman!"   Each party now collects their 'Payoff' of bad feelings, confirming their chosen life script.
  Jane feels depressed, and thinks, "I can never get anything right."
 

 
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