CTA Strokes, Rackets & Stamp Collecting 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'racket feeling' in transactional analysis?
- An authentic emotional response
- A substitute feeling that was permitted in childhood in place of the authentic emotion (Correct answer)
- A type of game
- A cognitive distortion
Correct answer: A substitute feeling that was permitted in childhood in place of the authentic emotion
A racket feeling is a substitute emotion that was encouraged or permitted in the family while authentic feelings were discounted, used to support script decisions.
Question 2: What is the 'racket system' in TA as described by Richard Erskine and Marilyn Zalcman?
- A model of criminal behavior
- An interlocking system of script beliefs, racket feelings, and reinforcing memories (Correct answer)
- A game analysis tool
- A stroke deprivation pattern
Correct answer: An interlocking system of script beliefs, racket feelings, and reinforcing memories
The racket system, developed by Erskine and Zalcman, describes the self-reinforcing system of script beliefs, racket feelings, and reinforcing memories that maintain the script.
Question 3: What is 'stamp collecting' in TA?
- A hobby unrelated to therapy
- The accumulation of stored bad feelings to be cashed in later for a major emotional expression (Correct answer)
- Collecting positive strokes
- A memory enhancement technique
Correct answer: The accumulation of stored bad feelings to be cashed in later for a major emotional expression
Stamp collecting in TA refers to storing up small bad feelings (racket feelings) over time and eventually cashing them in for a large emotional payoff, often a game payoff.
Question 4: What is a 'gold stamp' versus a 'brown stamp' in TA?
- Gold stamps are stored positive feelings; brown stamps are stored negative feelings (Correct answer)
- Gold stamps are authentic; brown stamps are racket feelings
- There is no meaningful difference
- Gold stamps are from the Parent; brown stamps are from the Child
Correct answer: Gold stamps are stored positive feelings; brown stamps are stored negative feelings
Gold stamps represent stored positive feelings (like righteousness or pride) cashed in for a reward, while brown stamps are stored negative feelings cashed in for expressions like anger or depression.
Question 5: How does 'discounting' relate to racket feelings in TA?
- Discounting has no relation to racket feelings
- Discounting authentic feelings leads to the substitution of racket feelings in their place (Correct answer)
- Discounting eliminates all feelings
- Discounting is a positive therapeutic technique
Correct answer: Discounting authentic feelings leads to the substitution of racket feelings in their place
Discounting authentic feelings — minimizing, ignoring, or denying them — leads to the development of racket feelings as substitutes that were more acceptable in the family.
Question 6: What is the therapeutic goal when working with racket feelings in TA?
- To eliminate all strong emotions
- To help the client identify and express authentic feelings instead of substituting racket feelings (Correct answer)
- To increase racket feeling awareness only
- To validate all feelings equally
Correct answer: To help the client identify and express authentic feelings instead of substituting racket feelings
The therapeutic goal is to help clients identify the authentic feelings underlying their racket feelings and express them appropriately, freeing them from script-driven emotional patterns.
CTA Strokes, Rackets & Stamp Collecting 2
What is a 'racket feeling' in transactional analysis?