NCJ Number
44615
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 5 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1977) Pages: 416-420
Date Published
1977
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE USE OF TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS (TA), A METHOD OF PSYCHOTHERAPY BASED ON UNDERSTANDING INTERACTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE, BY POLICE IN HANDLING DOMESTIC CONFLICTS IS DISCUSSED.
Abstract
ACCORDING TO THE PROPONENTS OF TA, THE METHOD OFFERS THE FOLLOWING ADVANTAGES: ITS METHODS AND PRINCIPLES ARE EASY TO LEARN; IT INCREASES SELF-UNDERSTANDING, THEREBY INCREASING UNDERSTANDING OF OTHERS; IT IS A PRACTICAL TOOL THAT IS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY USABLE; AND IT HELPS SOLVE INTRAPERSONAL, INTERPERSONAL, AND FAMILY PROBLEMS. THE TA APPROACH VIEWS EACH PERSON AS SIMULTANEOUSLY ENCOMPASSING PARENT, ADULT, AND CHILD, SPECIFYING THE ROLES PLAYED BY EACH PERSONALITY COMPONENT. A SECOND IMPORTANT TA CONCEPT IS THAT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL GAMES, I.E., ENGAGEMENT IN DESTRUCTIVE, TIME-CONSUMING INTERACTION IN WHICH ONE PLAYER WINS A PAYOFF (USUALLY BAD FEELINGS) AT THE EXPENSE OF ANOTHER PERSON. SUCH CONCEPTS CAN BE USED ADVANTAGEOUSLY BY POLICE OFFICERS IN HANDLING DISTURBANCE CALLS. THE OFFICER CAN VIEW THE CONFLICT PARTICIPANTS IN TERMS OF THE PERSONALITY COMPONENTS AND GAMES THEY ARE ACTING OUT AND CAN INTERVENE ACCORDINGLY. COMMON GAMES INVOLVED IN FAMILY DISPUTES ARE DESCRIBED, AND THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE BY THE POLICE OFFICER IS NOTED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT TA SHOULD BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF POLICE TRAINING PROGRAMS.