Transactional Analysis 3: gimmicks

Third in a series on TA, offering some of the metaphors I think can be useful in conceptualising and dealing with interactions. This third video takes a closer look at gimmicks and some different perspectives they can be viewed from — including gimmicks as faulty rules, faulty roles and faulty definitions — and then possible ways out.
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Recommended TA texts:
1) Ian Stewart & Vann Joines: 'TA Today: A New Introduction To Transactional Analysis'
2) Thomas A Harris: 'I'm OK, You're OK'
3) Eric Berne: 'Games People Play'
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Uploaded by: TheraminTrees
Tags for this video: PAC Parent Adult Child transactional analysis ego games stuck script gimmick faulty roles rules TA complementary crossed split drama

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@TheraminTrees ... ( 2 months ago by skiddywinkle)

@TheraminTrees sounds great! :)

This is so hard to ... ( 2 months ago by slaughtz)

This is so hard to stop doing. I've been doing this for years and it's only recently (under two weeks) I became aware of it. I would create stories in my head and try to find someone to 'act' it out with, my end goals in mind, not even caring what they think about it. Thanks for this series, I think it will really help when I've soaked it all in.

@slaughtz It can be ... ( 1 month ago by TheraminTrees)

@slaughtz It can be very difficult to stop doing — these reactions become so automatic, we react before we think. And those reactions are muscular — they've been flexed many times and they're strong. Alternative responses we might want to start using can feel weak and clumsy in comparison, difficult to keep in our consciousness as the old reactions squeeze them down. I think the more the new muscles are flexed, the more they grow, so eventually we're no longer controlled by old auto-reactions.

I really can't wait ... ( 1 month ago by theskepticalheretic)

I really can't wait to see appendix i. I'm sure I'm quite guilty of more than a few.

i think this series ... ( 1 month ago by xcvsdxvsx)

i think this series has helped me to understand why ive never been able to get along with people, i think ive been unwilling to play games and thus unable to satisfy the needs of others.

I think the best ... ( 1 month ago by f00tstep)

I think the best thing to do in most scenerios is to just call the person out on there bullshit as soon as you see it. Depending on how they react you can make the decision to ovoid the conflict or fix the problem and if you're lucky one of you could learn something from it.

@Theramintrees Very ... ( 1 month ago by zthomasack)

@Theramintrees Very nice illistration. This is something I have not thought about before until now. I will attempt to identify these games and game-causing attributes of myself in order to avoid these games in the future. This may be very helpful for me because I have recognized that I have one of those "I must show I am superior" complexes.
I really enjoy listening to the psychological analyses of human action. Keep up the good work!
Regards,
zthomasack

@zthomasack Thanks. ... ( 1 month ago by TheraminTrees)

@zthomasack Thanks. I like Berne's concept of 'gimmicks'. Really helps to make sense of the pitfalls of relying on fixed strategies — 'I must always/never ....'

@TheraminTrees ... ( 1 month ago by SavageDogg38)

@TheraminTrees never mind my last comment, I see them now :)

@TheraminTrees ... ( 1 month ago by SavageDogg38)

@TheraminTrees Which book would you recommend first?

ive been thinking ... ( 4 weeks ago by adzug)

ive been thinking about this in a larger frame. if a group or ppl are reasonable and rational and seek this as a way of policy. all our policies will be based on being reasonable with our opponents.but your opponents are only interested in getting their way by any means necessary, then how can the reasonable rational group still achieve policy? if you assume that others will be willing to meet you within reason but are only interested in winning then how can you get things done?

im sorry that was ... ( 4 weeks ago by adzug)

im sorry that was abit wordy. what i mean is your in parliment when the nazis come in before theyve taken over. well? how do you deal with them other than with force? in america now im wondering how do you deal with evangelicals? if someone makes or wants to make policy,based on their interpretation of what god says , and gods beyond testing or empirical evidence well...?

Ha, good video. But ... ( 4 weeks ago by Fangornmmc)

Ha, good video. But it´s hard to notice these in yourself even if you are aware of it, I did spot one in this video though: /watch?v=bsyQ442Xvnw. It an interview with Assad, the Syrian dictator, he answers the first question by saying that its not important how he looks at himself but how his people look onto him...

@TheraminTrees ... ( 3 weeks ago by ThePenguinColonel)

@TheraminTrees what's your opinion on someone who seeks pity? I find myself more comfortable when thinking less of myself than praising myself. The best thing I have thought of is fear, once I have put myself down it eliminates the reason to try something. Any thoughts? No problem if you feel uncomfortable discussing this.

@ThePenguinColonel ... ( 3 weeks ago by TheraminTrees)

@ThePenguinColonel I would wonder what's happening with someone who seeks pity — what function pity serves for them. Is it to gain some positive advantage they feel they need above others, or to avoid punishment, etc.. Regarding fear, I guess there are loads of possible coping strategies — building oneself up, or what you're describing: putting oneself down. I'd question whether a strategy might sometimes lead to something valuable being bypassed, and cut off an opportunity to grow.

@TheraminTrees can ... ( 3 weeks ago by ThePenguinColonel)

@TheraminTrees can you recommend any readings that would help me understand the subject better?

So... Ignoring ... ( 3 weeks ago by Andrathaniel)

So... Ignoring bullies is still a form of parenthood?! not adult?

@ThePenguinColonel ... ( 3 weeks ago by TheraminTrees)

@ThePenguinColonel The books in the video description explore TA concepts in general — which I'm not uncritical of, I should add. But I don't know of anything specific on gimmicks — this video is essentially the product of my own extended thoughts on the subject.

This is very ... ( 5 days ago by scarlet0077)

This is very helpful to me. Thanks for sharing this to everyone. now I know and understand things going on around me, specially in the workplace. haha.