Cultural Scripting for Forever Wars

Abstract

In conjunction with his previous analysis of war as a violent transactional game, the author explores the thesis that such violent conflict might be tied to an underlying cultural script transmitted across generations. He highlights the need for cultural leaders to be aware of the unacknowledged, or unconscious, level of this script, which, if made transparent, might help to facilitate peaceful resolution of these conflicts. He uses the United States as a case example to show how there may have been cultural script elements supporting the continuing use of military interventions and offers a case example of the scripting of a U.S. soldier. In his review of variables that may support his premise, he uses a historical perspective to review cultural narratives and related script beliefs in the war zone as well as a survey of script reinforcers. Some concluding reflections on how transactional analysts can help to de-script war are offered.

• international conflicts
• national scripts
• cultural scripting
• war scripts
• war script narratives
• beliefs
• reinforcers
• payoffs
• peace anxiety
• intergenerational transmission of war scripts

Notes

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

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

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Leonard P. Campos

Author Biography

Leonard P. Campos, PhD, a Teaching and Supervising Transactional Analyst (psychotherapy), has been an ITAA member for 47 years and is also a lifetime member of the American Psychological Association and the California State Psychological Association. He was trained in the redecision branch of transactional analysis by his mentors, Robert Goulding, MD, and Mary Goulding, LCSW, and was certified as an ITAA Teaching Member in 1971. Leonard retired in 2000 and currently is available as a TA consultant. He can be reached at his home office at 1606 Oakview Dr., Roseville, California 95661, USA; email: [email protected]; website www.TA-doctor.com.