Eric Berne (1910–1970)

I first read this book in about 2003. It was suggested to me by a woman with big hair who was making comments about other women with big hair. Bizarre! But I didn't see that game in Berne's work. As I began reading, I was struck by the 1960s tone. It was like watching the scene in Mad Men where Don Draper is discussing Betty's "psychological" problems with her psychiatrist, and the husband has more control over the process than the wife. Issues of American middle-class culture in the '60s show more emerge from time to time, and I wondered how such a book would fare today! It would be a candidate for the game of "Outrage" no less! But this time, I tried to comprehend the transactional analysis process by writing it down and going over the basis premises of games, and the social versus psychological roles of Parent, Adult, and Child, and how transgressions of social and psychological roles can lead to various games and situations. There is an emphasis on the results of group therapy and the therapist's observations of games, and it is clear that one is glimpsing the developmental stages of the profession of psychology (not so much psychiatry) as we know it today. Berne's work is based on his earlier publication, Transactional Analysis in Psychotherapy, and while it is suitable for a well-read general audience, the psychology professional is clearly in mind. I daresay the analyses and types of games have developed significantly since the book was written, but it is rather helpful in recognising different types of "games people play", even if all one can do is identify and then avoid such games. There are elements of Berne's idea of games that resonate with game theory in political science, albeit with less rigour in identifying the inherent biases. Nonetheless, it must be acknowledged that the behavioural revolution in political science was only beginning at this same time, and no doubt Berne was at the forefront of this revolution that continues to influence the social sciences. show less

I'm not sure how I feel about this book. There is some comfort in being handed a template of how to evaluate people's hidden motives, but it seems too amenable to becoming a stereotyping instrument. "Here's the diagnosis; here's how you 'cure' this person". I feel that I'd possibly have a more nuanced understanding if I'd read more of Berne's underlying theory, but this treatment of his concept of Game Analysis is presented as allowing its stand-alone use as a therapeutic tool. I think I'd show more want more from a transactional analyst than that they'd read this one book.

I also found his attitudes towards gender roles almost excruciatingly archaic, with several implications of victim blaming for rape and domestic violence. Well, I suppose it was written in 1964 by a middle-aged white man living in the USA, but still...

I'm studying Rogers' person-centered approach to counselling, so I guess that Berne's diagnostic/directive approach doesn't sit too well with me at this stage of my education. Nevertheless, I found much of interest and did enjoy reading the book, those cringe-making moments aside. (It looks like I do know how I feel about it after all.) show less

Hey! Even if you only read the introduction of this book it will change the way you meet and greet someone in the street. Read the rest of it and... and you'll begin to see, hear and watch other people (and yourself) playing all these silly, annoying and sometimes amusing games. The great thing about this book is it teaches you how the games start and most important of all how to opt out.

While the concept was new to me and moderately interesting, other factors got in the way. Most notably, the examples in this book are extremely dated. The underlying principles are rooted in Freudian psychology. Anything other than heterosexual orientation is treated as aberrant. Many of the classifications of games presume dated male and female roles within households. The “games” classify relationship patterns and interactions into a series of types that at once seem potentially useful show more and still simplistic. show less