Interaction analysis analyzes the communication that occurs in human relationships based on ego states, which can help individuals become aware of their own behaviors and attitudes and improve their interactions with others to achieve better communication.
Interaction analysis is the analysis of communication in human relationships based on the concept of ego states. In other words, interaction analysis is the study of human communication. In modern society, communication plays an important role in understanding and coordinating the interactions of individuals and groups. This is especially true in today’s environment, where people from different backgrounds and experiences work and live together. Interaction analysis can help individuals recognize their own communication patterns, predict the reactions of others, and develop more effective communication strategies. Through this analysis, interactants can improve their ability to recognize and understand their own and others’ behaviors and attitudes. The basic methods of interaction analysis are self-structure analysis and communication analysis.
Eric Berne postulated that there are three ego states that individuals use depending on their needs and situations, which he called the parental, adult, and child egos. In the ego structure analysis phase, we focus on the content and function of the three ego states. The parental ego is the ego state that takes a caring or teaching stance toward oneself or others, and the adult ego is the objective and rational ego state. The child ego, on the other hand, is immature and self-centered.
To further understand the concept of ego states, the parental ego state is further subdivided into two. The protective parental ego manifests as a caring and considerate attitude, which includes warm and accepting behavior. Critical parental ego, on the other hand, is characterized by an attitude of imposing rules and criticizing. The adult ego state primarily emphasizes realistic information processing and problem solving, which involves an individual’s ability to objectively assess the current situation without being influenced by subjective emotions or past experiences. The child ego state naturally divides into two. The free child is characterized by creative and spontaneous behavior, while the conforming child is characterized by an attitude of conformity to the expectations of others.
In this step of the communication analysis, you will practice using arrows to represent the interaction of the ego states analyzed earlier. If the communication is protective or critical, the parental ego will start the exchange; if the adult ego is judging things based on facts or communicating calmly to the other person, the adult ego will start the exchange; and if the child ego reacts emotionally and impulsively or tries not to hurt the other person’s feelings, the child ego will start the exchange. On the other hand, the content of these utterances will be directed to the Parental Personality when seeking support or assistance from the other person, to the Adult Personality when seeking or conveying facts or information to the other person or asking for a rational judgment based on reason, and to the Child Personality when stimulating the other person’s emotions or appealing to emotions or treating the other person as weak. Through this analysis, you can observe how you respond to others and gradually take conscious control of your own unproductive interactions. In any given situation, interactions can be complementary, intersectional, or self-interested.
Complementary interactions are those in which one of your ego states makes a desired response to a stimulus sent to one of the other’s ego states; in other words, your three ego states and the other’s three ego states form parallel lines that fulfill each other’s needs. In these exchanges, the conversation continues because the acknowledgments and touches are complementary. Intersectional exchanges are exchanges of reactions in which the other person’s needs are ignored or misunderstood. When you get a reaction that you don’t want, you’ll be surprised. Conversation should be based on understanding what the other person’s needs are. If you ignore the other person’s needs and respond in the wrong way, the conversation stops. A duplicitous exchange is one in which a double message is conveyed at the same time. This is when the psychological intention behind socially acceptable communication is the same as that of the interlocutor. It differs from complementary and intersectional exchanges in that it involves two self-states simultaneously.
The usefulness of interaction analysis is evident in everyday interactions. For example, when resolving conflicts between family members or improving communication in the workplace, interactional analysis can help facilitate positive interactions by understanding each person’s ego state and guiding appropriate responses. In education, interactional analysis can also help facilitate communication between teachers and students to improve learning. Furthermore, by explaining why dysfunctional interpersonal behaviors occur and recur, interaction analysis seeks to uncover and correct these problems. These problems are not unchangeable once created, but can be changed with effort.
In conclusion, interaction analysis is an important tool for understanding and improving the dynamics of human relationships. It allows us to be aware of our own behavior and make our interactions with others more positive and productive. This will improve the quality of life of individuals and contribute to improving the culture of communication in society as a whole. Interaction analysis is not just a theory, but a practical methodology that can be used in real life. As a key to unlocking the complexity of human relationships, interaction analysis can help individuals and groups interact more healthily and harmoniously.
