This book describes the theory of transactional analysis. Harris begins his book by explaining the fact that our brains are high fidelity tape recorders. This means that as we develop, all of the information we take in, however mundane, is stored in our minds. This information effect the way we interact with other people later in our lives. Eric Berne, the originator of transactional analysis, used it as a simple way of studying the way people initiate and respond to social transactions. Harris goes into greater detail with his book. He believes that transactional analysis can be used to improve all areas of life. His book identified the three parts of every person that are integrated within each of us. The parent, the child, and the adult are describes by Harris as phenomenological realities that reveal themselves in varying strength during our social interactions. The parent is described as the part of our psyche that contains the archaic recordings of the authority figured in our lives. The parent determines what is right and what is wrong based on information that has been imposed upon us by others. The child is described as the part of the mind that experiences raw emotion without the benefic of the ration al mind. The intellect and the higher self are thought to be contained within the adult. Harris thinks that happiness and success in all areas of life is dependant upon a strong connection to the adult self, at all times.

Along with the three aspects of the self, Harris spends a good deal of time describing the four life positions that a person takes on in their lives. The first three positions are unconscious. They are taken on early in childhood and carried through into adulthood until a conscious decision is made to take on the fourth and most beneficial position. The three unconscious life positions that are adopted in early childhood include, “I’m not ok, you’re ok”, “I’m, ok, you’re not ok”, and “I’m not ok, you’re not ok”. The first of those three positions is the most common of the three unconscious outlooks of transactional analysis. To a new student of the work of Berne, which was further developed by Harris, I would describe the first position, “I’m not ok, you’re ok”, as a position which is taken on by everyone who is fortunate enough to grow up under typical circumstances. Harris thinks that the child of a mainstream developmental surrounding adopts the, “I’m not ok” position at the beginning of life. This makes sense in the fact that all infants are completely helpless. A human in the very beginning of life would naturally take on a not ok perspective of life. Unable to meet his or her own needs the helpless infant views the caregiver who meets their basic needs as a person in the, “ok” position. This common developmental construct inspires the “I’m not ok, you’re ok” position. For the children who fall into less fortunate circumstances the other two life positions, formed in the absence of the adult, are subjugated. The “I’m not ok, you’re not ok”. Position is taken on by those who would be considered as either autistic, or severely intellectually compromised. This destructive life position occurs when a young child sees neither him or herself, nor his or her caregiver, as a source of love. For the victims of the most tragic childhoods, an “I’m ok, you’re not ok” life position is adopted. The “I’m ok, you’re not ok” position leads to sociopaths and other people who harbor what our society would consider, “evil”. These callous individuals have endured extreme abuse from their caregivers and therefore, do not perceive love as force which comes from outside sources. They value themselves and no one else.

Harris believes that the fourth position, “I’m ok, you’re ok”, can only be reached through the conscious effort of trusting in, and using the adult self in all areas of life. In the “I’m ok, you’re ok” position a person can love and accept themselves while trusting that others will most likely love and accept them as well.

This book is based upon the ideas of Eric Berne, yet Harris provides a more in depth analysis of the way we are able to use transactional analysis to improve our lives. From my understanding, maintaining a committed relationship to the adult aspect of the self and trusting in its effectiveness to create constructive interactions with others is the best way, in fact, the only way, to reach the position of, “I’m ok, you’re ok”. The mindful position of, “I’m ok, you’re ok” guarantees a healthy and rational template for social interaction. It eliminates the irrational and/ or emotional parts of the self that create unpleasant social interactions. Furthermore, it can be used as a means to improve the lives of people who may not understand the world as we do. Harris firmly believes that people who are intellectually compromised are able to grasp, and use, the simple concepts of transactional analysis to improve both their behavior, and their quality of life.

To back up his idea that transactional analysis can be used to improve the quality of life for anyone who has difficulties with relating to others, especially adolescents, the autistic, and the mentally retarded; Harris refers to both his own work and to the work of many psychologists, psychiatrists, and philosophers. Both the evidence provided from Harris’ personal experiences with transactional analysis, and empirical evidence that supports the ideas surrounding Harris’ philosophy are well introduced and persuasive.

As I read through this book, I became increasingly excited about how useful transactional analysis could be as a tool in my own counseling career. Though dated, the theory of transactional analysis is a simple and easily applied concept that people could use to evaluate themselves and the people they come into contact with. The work of Dr. Harris has inspired many people to live their lives in a mindful way in order to improve both their own well being and the well being of the people they come into contact with. This book was both insightful and useful. It’s in depth and thoughtful explanation of the concepts and possible applications of transactional analysis was as informative as it was inspirational. Besides using transactional analysis in my own daily life, I hope to one day offer transactional analysis as a useful tool for other people who may show resistance to more mainstream methods of counseling.

While I must admit that I was skeptical about the usefulness of transactional analysis with people who are mentally retarded, I have since found transactional analysis is, I fact, useful in my own personal experiences with my mentally retarded sister. In Harris’ work, he explains the concept of Parent, Child, and Adult to the disabled people he works with. I have found this explanation, which may not be so easily grasped by those with a low IQ to be entirely unnecessary. My sister is twenty five years old. With an IQ of around 50, she naturally dismisses any concrete concepts. However, I have found that even a retarded woman who functions at the level of a five year old has the ability to respond to the methods used by Dr. Harris. By only speaking to the facet of my sister’s personality that would be considered her “Adult” I seemed to have sparked a dramatic improvement in her public behavior. The explanation of the concepts surrounding transactional analysis has been unnecessary. This lack of understanding of PAC has not impacted the usefulness of Dr. Harris’ work on our lives. By talking only to my sister’s adult self, while ignoring her parent and child, I can reach my sister on a deep level that affects both her outward behavior and her internal understanding of cause and effect. Harris makes it quite clear that transactional analysis requires both parties engaged in the transaction have to be mindful of their adult in order for PAC to be effective. By speaking to my sister’s adult self exclusively from the perspective of my own adult self, I avoid slipping into both the authoritarian ideas of my parent self, and the frustrations and helpless feelings of my child self. Thinking about where I am coming from while addressing my sister has caused an almost miraculous shift in the dynamic of the relationship we share. In a very simple way, the work of Dr. Harris has allowed me to ignore thoughts and feeling that are not productive in order to make room for the mutual respect that is required in any relationship.