Transactional Analysis and Conflict Management

Abstract

In the authors’ experience, it has often been difficult within the transactional analysis community to work through conflict in a way that invites development and growth. Based on the awareness that a conflict is cocreated by everyone involved, this article explores tendencies that affect ways in which conflicts are and are not addressed effectively within the transactional analysis culture, resistance within the community to conflict in general, and a possible love or benevolence racket at work. Consideration is also given to the way that Eric Berne as the Euhemerus of transactional analysis may have handled conflict, and suggestions are offered for further research and reflection.

• conflict
• transactional analysis
• negotiation
• growth
• development
• rackets
• life positions
• script
• OK corral

Notes

Declaration of Conflicting Interests The authors declared no potential conflicts of interests with respect to research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Funding The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mil Rosseau

Author Biographies

Anne de Graaf, MSc, is a Teaching and Supervising Transactional Analyst (organizational) and a co-owner, general director, and trainer at the Dutch TA Academie. He is, together with Bill Cornell, Trudi Newton, and Moniek Thunnissen, a coauthor of a new introduction to transactional analysis titled Into TA: A Comprehensive Textbook on Transactional Analysis. He has also coauthored other TA books, including Einstein and the Art of Sailing and Climate Change in Organisations. He can be reached at Nobel Hoeve 43, 3451 TA Vleuten, The Netherlands; email: [email protected]; website: www.ta-academie.nl.

Mil Rosseau, MSc, is a Provisional Teaching and Supervising Transactional Analyst (education). He runs transactional analysis workshops on personal leadership, redecision, change management, and executive coaching in organizations all over the globe. He founded the TA Academie België and recently started BIRD, the Business Institute for ReDecision. He is a trainer at the Dutch TA Academie and has written a number of articles for transactional analysis journals. As an executive lecturer, he runs TA-based workshops for Nyenrode Business University’s in-company programs of leading organizations as well as in the modular MBAs and the Executive and Management Development Center. Mil can be reached at B P Damantlaan 3a, B 9080 Lochristi, Belgium; email: [email protected]; website: www.ta-academie.com.