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Book Review. Dr Kate Culley ST3, Lighthouse Medical Practice, Eastbourne. Games people play the psychology of human relationships. Eric Berne. The author- Eric Berne. Canadian , born 1910 Doctor. Trained in USA; psychiatry, psychotherapy and analysis Numerous other texts
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Book Review Dr Kate Culley ST3, Lighthouse Medical Practice, Eastbourne.
Games people playthe psychology of human relationships Eric Berne
The author- Eric Berne • Canadian , born 1910 • Doctor. Trained in USA; psychiatry, psychotherapy and analysis • Numerous other texts • Creator of transactional analysis. • Died MI in 1970 age 60.
The book • International best seller • First published USA 1964 • Sequel to transactional analysis • 162 pages • Divided into 4 sections • Introduction • Analysis of games • Thesaurus of games • Beyond games
Introduction • Follows on from prequel transactional analysis • Brief overview social psychiatry • Stroking – fundamental unit of social action. Exchange of strokes = transaction • Defines social intercourse + structuring of time • Stimulus hunger • Recognition hunger • Structure hunger • ‘human life is mainly a process of filling in time until the arrival of death’
Part 1 – analysis of games • Introduces theory necessary for understanding of games • Describes structural and transactional analysis • Personality structure and ego states • Parent • Adult • Child • Differentiates between transactions, rituals and procedures, pastimes and games • Defines nature and function of games
So what are games? • Recurring set of transactions with a predictable outcome but concealed motivation • Sandwiched between pastimes and intimacy • Fill majority of social intercourse • Handed down the generations • Generally learnt form parents in early childhood • Determine who we pick as friends/social circle • Function is reward of pay off/culmination • Structure our time – waiting for Santa Claus... • Shape our destiny? • Allow some form of intimacy in day to day lives
Part 2 – thesaurus of games • Divided into life games, marital, party, underworld, consulting room, and good games • Breaks down into thesis, aim, roles, dynamics, examples, paradigm, moves, advantages, related games • ‘Why don't you yes but’ – first ever game discovered – party game • Commonest marital game – ‘if it weren't for you’
Part 3 – beyond games • Sort of Epilogue • Defines significance of games in terms of historical/ cultural/ social and personal • Describes the players; “sulk” “jerk” • Model example of game free transaction • Defines autonomy as ultimate aim – 3 parts • Awareness • Spontaneity • Intimacy
Conclusions • Study of human behaviour • Good basic overview of TA • Fascinating intro to concepts of social psychiatry and personality • Provides framework to understand human relationships • Encourages self analysis and that of others • Not any easy read! Can be read as stand alone text but would likely benefit from having read previous/background psychotherapy • Complex to follow – cross reference to parts not yet read • Worked examples excellent and help understand but inconsistent - differ in detail and complexity • In parts outdated and very rooted in American culture • Games themselves not evidence based - Based on consulting room observations and theory • Well worth reading – might learn something about yourself or those closest to you!
Thank you! Any questions?