The State of the Ego: Then and Now

Abstract

This article considers the state of ego state theory in transactional analysis. Based on the hypothesis that there is a confusion in practice and the transactional analysis literature based on different and differing structural models of ego states, the author clarifies Berne's concept of the ego and of ego states by drawing on the earlier work of Federn (1952d), Weiss (1950), and Glover (1955). Following the work of Trautmann and Erskine (1981), Erskine (1988, 1991), Gobes (1990), Oller-Vallejo (1997, 2003), and Wadsworth and DiVincenti (2003), and based on a close reading of Berne's (1961/ 1975a) Transactional Analysis in Psychotherapy, the author clarifies the distinction between two sets of structural ego state models with regard to definitions of ego states, theories of human development, the concept of integration, and views about the goal or end of therapy. While the article is primarily a contribution to the clinical field (psychotherapy and counseling), the clarification of the two sets of models, and especially the differing views of the Adult, has implications for all applications of transactional analysis.

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Notes on contributors

Keith Tudor

Keith Tudor, Ph.D., CQSW, Dip. Psychotherapy, Certified Transactional Analyst (psy-chotherapy), Teaching and Supervising Trans-actional Analyst (psychotherapy), is an associate professor and program leader in the Department of Psychotherapy, AUT University. He can be reached by writing Keith Tudor, Department of Psychotherapy, School of Public Health and Psychosocial Studies, AUT University, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, Aotearoa, New Zealand; e-mail: [email protected].