Eric Berne is a well-known psychiatrist and psychologist in America and throughout the world of the last century, who managed to bring psychoanalysis to a much higher level. Despite his medical practice, Eric Berne also proved himself to be a skilled writer.
The revolutionary theories he created, for example, the transactional analysis of relationships between people, were presented in the form of a series of books.
He is the author of over 16 works, which describe all aspects of scenario and transactional analysis.
The books of this famous psychoanalyst, although based on a scientific approach, are presented in accessible language. Therefore they are suitable for a wide audience. We present to you all of Eric Berne's books in order - a complete list.
Games People Play. Psychology of human relationships
Eric Berne, a world-famous psychiatrist and psychologist, has developed a system that helps a person independently get rid of the unwanted influence of the scripts that determine his behavior.
The author is convinced that the fate of each of us is determined in childhood, when the family and others lay down the basic patterns of behavior. However, nothing prevents us, having reached adulthood, from analyzing our life scenario and adjusting it.
This book will be of interest to those who strive for personal growth and are ready to find true freedom.
People who play games
Eric Berne argues that we all live according to a certain scenario, which is formed in early childhood. Day after day we get used to the role to build our own destiny.
Without deviating one step from the script once written, we communicate with relatives and friends, build relationships with colleagues, and react to failures and success.
But is it possible to change the program and make your own life happy and calm? The pages of this book tell you how you can change the scenario and achieve your goals.
Winners, losers or the “golden mean”. What did Eric Berne leave us?
Do you like to play games? Even if your answer is no, you are playing them almost daily without realizing it.
In 1902, Eric Lennard Berne was born in Canada - doctor of medicine, psychiatrist, psychologist.
He graduated from the university in Montreal, after which he moved to the USA, where he continued his education. The subject of his attention was psychoanalysis.
In 1947, he published the book “Psyche in Action,” published in different countries under the title “Introduction to Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis for the Uninitiated.”
Bern is the founder of the International Association for Transactional Analysis, whose members include, among others, the CIS countries.
The general public is known for such works as “Games People Play” and “People Who Play Games” (the names are shortened - ed.).
Eric Berne studies interpersonal interactions (transactional analysis), stereotypical manipulative behavioral patterns (game analysis), and long-term life plans (script analysis).
The goal of the psychotherapist is to rid the client of early destructive games and the corresponding script, and also to help achieve intimacy and independence in interpersonal relationships.
"Are you an actor. Play as written!” - “Don’t you have another text?”
What are these “life scenarios” and why did this concept appear in the first place?
What happens when you try to answer the question “Who am I”? The question is, of course, very broad, so let’s set the direction: you are the one who always succeeds at something. And if it hasn’t worked out yet, it will definitely work out. It's just a matter of time. Or maybe you are someone who, in principle, is “unlucky” in life?
Surely different answers are possible, right? Why is the “mood” and often (but probably not always) the practical results obtained from such an attitude so fundamentally different? Why do some people say “I can do everything”, while others say “why try, I won’t succeed anyway”?
It has been suggested that repeating events are a sign of the presence of a script in a person's life. This is a kind of life plan located in our subconscious, formed in early childhood and gradually unfolding over many years, often against our will.
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It is believed that, to one degree or another, scenario elements exist in everyone’s life - regardless of their level of freedom (stereotypes, etc.) and independence (moral and material). However, each has its own significance. Accidents also play a certain role in the “kaleidoscope of life.”
There are many scenarios, so any classification of them is conditional.
"Winners" Clear goals, a sober understanding of your strengths and weaknesses. Achieving a goal, success is an internal state rather than visible manifestations. As children, they hear “You will succeed,” and feel the real support of their parents.
“Winners” as an “anti-script”. Sometimes it happens that, despite skeptical parental forecasts, the child begins to act the opposite. “There is no one to help you. You don’t have a father, it will be difficult to “break through.” The child achieves success despite “unfortunate” circumstances.
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"Golden mean". The ability to achieve one’s goals (usually quite modest), predictability, loyalty, efficiency, conscientiousness. For most of these people, it is more important not so much to achieve success as to avoid failure. As children, they are loved by their parents, but not without “be more modest,” “mind your own business,” etc. The result is somewhat low self-esteem, agreement to be content with little, diligence, “initiative is punishable,” “it’s better to be like everyone else” (even if there is significant potential). There are most of these people.
"Losers". A feeling of being deprived of fate - even when everything seems to be fine. Expectation of something unpleasant, feeling of self-pity. If in childhood a child was “prophesied” that nothing would come of him, and he “believed” in this, such a model of attitude towards himself may accompany him further.
A possible option is “hidden loser.” This type of behavior can develop even in a capable person - for example, if a child is told that everything is great, but does not develop the ability to work. As long as everything works out, there are no problems. For example, it was easy to learn. However, in situations where significant effort is required, the model may fail.
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Exit? Yes
Understand your script. Sometimes changes can already occur at this stage.
Say goodbye to rigid attitudes. For example, “I won’t be able to do this until...” change to “I will be able to do this if...”.
Find your “provocateurs”. Think about what you are doing or saying that is “developing” a certain situation in a negative way for you? Having identified/assumed a “provocateur”, conduct an experiment: in a familiar situation, act in a new way. If you don't check, you won't know, right?
Enter a personal set of restrictions. “Doctor, when I do this, it hurts” - “Don’t do that.” In this anecdotal situation there is, perhaps, some rational meaning. If there is a negative scenario associated - for example - with communicating with some people (and/or on certain topics), then it makes sense to either avoid this situation (at least for some time), or try to change it.
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Start a dialogue and get “permission.” Resolution is a special procedure that psychotherapists use during scenario analysis.
It is not only the therapist who can eliminate the scripted program. This could be someone in authority who is not inferior in power to the parent who could unwittingly create this program. However, if a person is ready for change, even the words of a random fellow traveler can have an impact. It happens that one remark or meeting becomes fateful and changes your whole life.
Do you need to change anything?
Something - probably yes. However, it is likely that not every life scenario is necessarily negative and requires getting rid of it.
Without them, life would be a continuous series of improvisations. Does everyone love, want or can improvise? I think no. Someone will prefer to play a “part” that is well learned and executed flawlessly (well, almost). Yes, and composing doesn’t always work out. If such a person does not receive a “script” from his parents, it is unknown how life will be lived. For this reason, for many, he is a kind of “anchor” holding them back.
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A verified, successful scenario protects against surprises. An attempt to go beyond its boundaries is not successful in all cases: the world may turn out to be unfriendly and unpredictable. Therefore, someone remains comfortable even in their unsuccessful scenarios, benefiting from them in their own way.
Panacea?
Most likely, “scenario analysis” is not a source of answers to all questions related to the multifaceted human life. And it would be wrong to think that the entire possible range of manifestations of our behavior is determined by the script. However, as one of the tools for understanding why a person lives and acts this way and not otherwise, it can be useful. Thank you, Dr. Bern!
Text: Enver Aliyev
Other
Sex in human love
Let's look at sex from a transactional analysis perspective and see what games people prefer to play in bed, what role parents have played in shaping our intimate habits, and what the “language of sex” is.
A fascinating and provocative exploration of human nature, numerous myths and stereotypes awaits you. You will find out where the “male” and “female” forces are hidden, how the arousal mechanism is triggered, whether sex for friendship exists and why orgasm is not available to some of us.
And finally, and most importantly, how does sex differ from true intimacy and what does it have in common with true love?
Party Games
This chapter examines four games that are commonly played at parties: "What a Horror!", "Flaw", "Blubber" and "Why Don't You... - Yes, But...".
During the popular game “Why don’t you... - Yes, but...” one player seems to ask for advice and help, and the others diligently give it, but the hero ultimately rejects everything, often leading the conversation to a dead end. This game begins when a person states a problem in their life and another responds by offering constructive solutions to the problem. The desperate person says: “Yes, but...”, thereby continuing to ask for possible options. In the "adult" ego state, a person studies and probably makes a decision (Adult position), but this is not the goal of the player. His goal is to receive a portion of compassion from others for self-satisfaction (the “childish” ego). The sympathizer, in turn, plays the role of a wise parent.
Beyond games and scenarios
This collection includes the best lectures and articles by the famous American psychologist and psychiatrist, who made an invaluable contribution to the development and popularization of psychoanalysis in the twentieth century.
Students and devoted followers of Eric Berne selected those works in which the fundamentals of transactional analysis were most fully and clearly revealed.
To understand and accept yourself, learn to interact harmoniously and effectively with others, and correctly adjust your life scenario, start with the basics - studying Bern's ideas and techniques.
An introduction to psychiatry and psychoanalysis for the uninitiated. The General Book of Transactional Analysis
If you are taking your first steps into the study of psychiatry and psychology, you need to pay attention to the Introduction by Eric Lennard Berne, one of the most influential psychologists of the twentieth century.
In the pages of this book, the author talks very simply and clearly about the structure of the human psyche, under the influence of what factors it is formed, what stages of development a child goes through and how they affect his fate, why some people are prone to depression and alcoholism - and much more.
You will return to this book more than once to expand your picture of the world and discover new facets of the human psyche.
Transactional analysis in psychotherapy
This study by Eric Berne, devoted to the analysis of a person's personality and character, as well as the study of their influence on everyday life, has become one of the most cited and significant.
Transactional analysis allows you not only to independently study the scenario of your life, but also to effectively, quickly and fairly painlessly adjust it in the right direction in order to gain real freedom, forever get rid of embedded behavioral patterns and become truly happy.
Thanks to this book, millions of people broke their usual scenario, managed to reconcile their dreams with social responsibilities and learned to competently build relationships with the outside world.
Biography of an American psychologist
Eric Berne was born in Montreal, Canada, into a poor Jewish family that came from Russia. Bern's father, David Bernstein, was a practicing physician and had a significant influence on the formation of his son's personality. He often took Eric with him when he visited his patients. Eric was traumatized by the early death of his father, who, one might say, was his greatest friend. In one of his books he placed a dedication addressed to his father.
The future scientist’s mother, Sarah Gordon, was a professional writer. She also had a certain influence on Eric, who in the future acquired the habit of writing about the treatment of his patients. After David's death, his mother supported the whole family.
Eric Berne received his basic medical education there, in Montreal, at McGill University. After some time, he moved to the USA. Given the spread of anti-Semitic sentiment, he changed his surname to Bern. At first he was a practicing doctor, both privately and in psychiatric hospitals.
During World War II, Bern joined the Army Medical Corps. It was during this time that he first began working with groups. The experience gained became material for his scientific research. One of the main directions of his research at this time was the study of so-called ego images. The ego image is a certain intuitive idea of the patient, based on his stories about himself.
Leader and group. On the structure and dynamics of organizations and groups
The structure of a wide variety of groups - from the family to the state or corporation - is most fully and clearly revealed in the work of the legendary psychologist Eric Berne.
In the world of mutual influence, the essence of which is described in this book, it is necessary to make the most effective and full use of all our skills, energy and talents given to us from birth.
But first, you need to carefully study the mechanism and sources of leadership development, analyze your own place in society, and then, using Berne’s methods, take a worthy position in the structure.
Neo-Freudianism
Freudianism or Freudian psychoanalysis is a systematic explanation of unconscious connections through the associative process. Freud proposed a new structure of human personality with its division into “I” (Ego), “superego” (superego) and “It” (id).
The scientist subjected any mental states, like all human actions, and then all historical events and phenomena in public life, to psychoanalysis. He interpreted them as a manifestation of unconscious, and, first of all, sexual desires.
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Freud's followers are called representatives of neo-Freudianism. They believe that the main place in the individual’s position belongs to socio-cultural influences. That is, they focused their attention on socio-cultural processes.
According to neo-Freudians, it is precisely such processes that can significantly influence the emergence of intrapersonal conflicts. The basis of any theoretical construction of neo-Freudianism is considered to be the concept of the unconscious and the fundamental conflict of relations between the individual and society.
The main representatives of neo-Freudianism are K. Horney, G. Sullivan, E. Fromm and others. F. Alexander and A. Kardiner are often also considered followers of this trend.
K. Horney, in 1932, after emigrating to the USA, discovered that the background of the neurotic conflict in patients in the New World was significantly different from that in patients from Germany and Austria. Understanding this fact leads the researcher to abandon the Freudian theory of instinct. She recognizes the sociocultural conditioning of psychopathology.
Finished works on a similar topic
Coursework Representatives of neo-Freudianism: Eric Berne 400 ₽ Essay Representatives of neo-Freudianism: Eric Berne 270 ₽ Test work Representatives of neo-Freudianism: Eric Berne 210 ₽
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Thus, neo-Freudians remain committed to the idea of unconscious emotional motivation in human activity, with the assertion that psychopathology is relative and specific to each culture.
Freudian ideas were further developed in the works of followers. Thus, one of Freud’s closest associates, A. Adler, shifted the emphasis from the sexual unconscious to the unconscious desire for power as a basic drive. It manifests itself in human behavior within the family, interpersonal relationships and relationships among social groups.
Another close associate of the scientist C. G. Jung was involved in the development of the doctrine of the collective unconscious. It included a system of archetypes that determine the behavior of individuals and large social groups.
