Games People Play: Study Guide

This podcast focuses on transactional analysis, a psychological theory that examines social interactions and identifies ego states, such as Parent, Adult, and Child, which influence behavior. The author introduces the concept of "strokes" as units of social recognition and explains how interactions can be categorized as transactions. The material further explores structured interactions like procedures and rituals, distinguishing them from pastimes and more complex games, which are analyzed according to their thesis, aim, roles, and dynamics. Several examples of these games are provided and analyzed, illustrating their hidden motivations and the negative consequences they often entail. The goal of this analysis is to understand how to break free from games and achieve autonomy, characterized by awareness, spontaneity, and intimacy.
Source: Excerpts from "Games People Play" by Eric Berne