Games People Play is considered a timeless classic among the field of Psychology. It has sold nearly five million copies since its original publication in 1964. Although published fifty years ago, Berne’s theory as well as “games” he includes in his book still hold true today. The book is separated into two parts. The first half explains Berne’s theory of “Transactional Analysis”, his unique interpretation of social analysis. This theory describes human beings having a possible three roles (or ego states) during transactions: the Parent, Adult, and Child. He believed that unwanted behavior can be caused due to the switching or confusion of these particular roles. For example, a parent with an inability to create boundaries for their children can succumb the parental role, creating a Child-Child transaction (and overall relationship), which can result in negative consequences for both individuals.
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