Critique of Eric Berne's Contributions to Subself Theory

Abstract

The theory and techniques of Eric Berne's transactional analysis are disseminated widely but there are few systematic reviews of his work. This paper attempts to fill the gap in the context of subself and self-group theory, two aspects of the writer's ego therapy. The following highlights emerge from this assessment: (a) Berne's major contributions are the concepts of ego states and transactional analysis, (b) Transactional analysis is a comparatively complete personality theory and psychotherapeutic technology, (c) Berne's theory is clinically based, rests on reinforcement theory and Freudian drive theory and is deficiency rather than growth-oriented, (d) In general, he is “Adult” (intellectually) oriented, (e) His treatment model is therapist-centered and essentially medical, (f) Many of his descriptions and his theory involve (inner) group variables but do not treat the self as a group per se. (g) Berne's work deserves considerably more attention.