Time Structuring & Autonomy in TA Flashcards

In TA, 'autonomy' is defined as the recovery of which three capacities?

Answer: Awareness, spontaneity, and intimacy

Berne defined autonomy as the recovery or reclamation of three human capacities: awareness, spontaneity, and intimacy.

Awareness as a component of autonomy in TA refers to:

Answer: The capacity to perceive directly without script filters

Awareness means experiencing the world directly and freshly, without the distorting filters imposed by early script decisions.

Spontaneity in the context of TA autonomy means:

Answer: The freedom to choose from the full range of ego states

Spontaneity means having the option to select freely from the full repertoire of behaviors available across all ego states, rather than being script-constrained.

Intimacy as a component of autonomy in TA involves:

Answer: Game-free candid sharing of feelings and needs

Intimacy as an autonomous capacity involves authentic, game-free mutual sharing without hidden agendas or script-driven interactions.

Which theorist primarily developed and introduced the concept of autonomy in TA?

Answer: Eric Berne

Eric Berne, the founder of TA, introduced the concept of autonomy and its three components in his foundational theoretical work.

Berne's six types of time structure, ordered from least to most psychologically intimate, are:

Answer: Withdrawal, Rituals, Pastimes, Activities, Games, Intimacy

Berne ordered the six types from most to least psychologically safe, beginning with withdrawal and ending with the risky but genuine contact of intimacy.

A client who consistently chooses games over intimacy is most likely demonstrating:

Answer: Script-driven avoidance of authentic connection

Repeated game-playing typically reflects script decisions that keep the person from the vulnerability required for authentic intimacy.