2.3-2 TA in Pills - Injunctions and Drivers 2

Injunctions and Drivers 2
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(Injunction is an inhibiting don't message)
(Drivers are compulsive behaviours)
"Words with special meaning are marked * in text and explained in Notes"

We have seen in the previous blog Click Here that there are eight components of script apparatus. 

Of these, three are script controls. They control one's script behaviour. Injunction is one of the three controls that drives or pushes the script. Driver is incorporated later on. It is a prescription. While injunctions are inhibiting, Drivers are compulsive and manifest as behaviours. 

Injunctions

Injunctions are unfair negative commands. They are 'prohibitory' messages. They are either installed as parental directives or self installed as in 'inferring' what parents mean to communicate (non verbally). They work at somatic level because they are installed before we have words. We may not know that they exist till we read about them. They deny us permission to action the corresponding endowments. Because they are freedom denying they start with a command 'Don't'. The principal injunctions that are noticed frequently in treatment are listed here:

1. Don't Exist
2. Don't Think
3. Don't Feel or Experience
4. Don't be sane / Don't be well
5. Don't Be the Sex You are born in 
6. Don't Grow up
7. Don't be Child
8. Don't have Fun / Don't be happy
9. Don't Succeed / Don't be Successful / Don't Make it
10. Don't be Important / Avoid Limelight
11. Don't be Close
12. Don't Belong

These are not explained because they have therapeutic implications.

Drivers

Drivers are compulsive behaviours. They help a person to be free of  limitations imposed by injunctions. While on the one hand they help a person in survival, on the other hand they prove to be disadvantageous. The principal drivers with their effects are given here:

1. Be Perfect: It gets persons to be conscientious, meticulous, paying attention to details, reliable, accurate, organised and  good in forecasting. Lop Side - They cannot see the larger picture. They miss out deadlines. They are unable to assess the level of detail required for a matter. They cannot rely on others.
2. Be Pleasing: They are inclusive, congenial, peace loving, encourage harmony, counted to be good team members and loop in people who may be staying away in groups. Lop Side -  They are reluctant to express their needs or opinion, keep away from upsetting people,  and seen doing their part quietly without taking initiative to take up responsibilities on their own.  
3. Be Strong: They are a pillar of support in crisis, difficulties and challenges. They are good problem solvers and support others in distress. They have a strong sense of duty and are reliable. They are open in expressing their opinion and provide their critical views. Lop Side - They are unable to feel or express their feelings or opinions. They are seen as being without emotion. They do not ask for help. They regard failure as weakness. 
4. Try Hard: They invest energy in trying instead of doing. They are good in seeing the larger picture. They go in for things new and interesting. Lop Side -  They are unable to finish tasks. They labour hard. 
5. Hurry Up: They are efficient though not effective. They are quick in doing things and getting done with them. They like things easy.  Lop Side - They do not go deep into learning, knowledge or its application. They push others to comply with their inner drive to complete things. They are likely to make mistakes.  

Drivers structure the process of scripts. Please read my previous blog at : 1-8.3 TA Script Theory 3 - Seven Process Scripts - Click Here.

This blog comes from Ajit Karve from Pune. I am a qualified TA Practitioner. I specialise in using TA for personal growth, personal development, personal effectiveness and for transformational change. I can be reached on +919822024037. Please feel free to seek clarifications by writing to me on ajitpkarve@gmail.com or taforyouandme@gmail.com. 

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Notes:

* The portion on Drivers is incorporated based on contents of Clarke's Dictionary of Transactional Analysis.