PREVIOUS: E.S. BASICS #1

 

NOTE: For detailed info on other states, read posts: Parent E.S. // Child E.S.

 

EGO STATE (E.S.) MODES
The Ego State model provides a way to look at our internal world in the context of our personal history. 

➡️ This CHART is a combination of ‘Descriptive’ outlines of personality, based on Berne’s Structural E.S. , ‘OK Corral’ (below) & Functional Fluency models

Just as with traffic lights, red means stop & green means go – so here all red modes are unhealthy ways to functioning. They are the result of trauma, causing negative energy blockages from those outdated experiences, & which now invite negative reactions from others (one of the other red styles).

The Integrating Adult is healthy (center), as are the green modes of the Loving Parent & Natural Inner Child, inviting positive responses from others.

FUNCTIONAL FLUENCY (FF) – describes & explains key aspects of human social functioning – specifically about our social “response-ability”, the art & skill of inter-personal effectiveness. Derived from Eric Berne’s T.A. & based on extensive research, it has the advantage of being extremely practical & down-to-earth.
This CHART ⬇️ shows a range of basic social behaviors, giving us a framework for understanding & building positive relationships.

It’s a tool for developing emotional literacy, which is the sensitivity & skill needed for both self-awareness & knowing how to deal with others. FF can be used by our Adult E.S. to improve self-awareness, understanding, empathy & social competence, especially in business, in order to:
• sort out misunderstandings
• use authority to everyone’s benefit
• manage a team so that members thrive
• care for others without becoming worn out

Learning how to expand & enrich the use of the 5 positive modes,  (+ control, + Care, + Socialized S, + Natural S. & Central A.) makes it possible to modify or change the 4 NEG modes, allowing us to develop greater Emotional Intelligence, such as self-motivation & social competence.
ARTICLE: ‘Update on the Functional Fluency Model in Education’, includes: “….ways the model links with, but is different from, other E.S. models”

This CHART ➡️ combines T.A. & FF Models, showing how it can be used to identify behavior in any ego state. The term “accounting” is of crucial importance – ie. in charge / showing up (Adult E. S. – # 1).

Depending on which E.S is activated, people may be in ‘Accounting’ by:
• full here-&-now skills of the Adult E.S.
• abilities & tendencies of one of the Parent figures, or
• the immaturity of one of the Child E.S.

Identifying someone’s Accounting state can give us a sensitive & accurate understanding of where they’re coming from, since it’s easier to recognize what people are doing than what they are not doing – ie. what’s missing.

It’s also a way to understand T.A’s 4 levels of discounting – denial OF a problem, it’s importance, possibility of change & personal abilities.
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The OK CORRAL, (Franklin Ernst, 1971)
Eric Berne (T.A.) believed that we are all born ‘OK’ – good & worthy. Frank Ernst developed this idea into the OK matrix, also known as ‘life positions’. (See explanations for each quad)

This format is a helpful shortcut for ACoAs to observe & identify what attitude we & others have at any given time – so we know who or what we’re dealing with

Life Positions are used to justify decisions & behavior, which Berne referred to as ‘existential‘ (includes self-awareness), our default state when under stress.
They can change as we develop & grow, but the one we started with is a theme that runs through our life – the beliefs & decisions we make about ourselves / others from childhood experiences
OUR goal is to grow into the GREEN quad!

Based on the OK Corral, the blue CHART shows the 4 positions expanded into 8 – existential & behavioral life defaults, which can be used to explore & understand cooperation or conflict with others.

These positive & negative ways we see ourselves & others are not to be confused with actual ability, capacity or habitual activities. (MORE….)

NEXT: CHILD E.S. (Part 1)