TA in Pills 1-8.2 TA Script Theory 2 Introducing the Concept of Script 2

TA Script Theory 2

(Script is a self authored life plan written in early childhood. It governs the general course of a person's life. It is 'directed' to achieve a life goal or script payoff. )
"Words with special meaning are marked * or ** in text and explained in Notes"

A major contribution to script building is made by parents. There is a unique relationship between mother and child during the nursing months. Some of the things mothers say are:

• Don't cry. It's not time yet. 
• Sorry. The phone rang.
• Take your time. I am in no hurry.
• Hey. That hurts.
• If you bite I'll put you away.

It is not limited to what mother says. What she does alongside - bodily response - has an influence on the infant.

Then during the toilet training days.

• Sit there till I come back.
• That looks good.
• Come on. You are taking too long.
• You look really cute baby.
• What happened. You want me to make you do it.

The growing child in pre-school years hears things like:

• Not again. I said no.
• What happened, you are so quiet.
• There, there you'll fall.
• You are hurt, never mind.
• Come eat and finish this.

Such simple statements by parents generates programming. The statements say one thing and mean another thing. Children make it out to be quite different. Thus script is born. The child in a way decides what life it will live and what it will do for it to come true. This is script, a self authored life plan. The plan is lived out as a life course. The most incapacitating statements are those that plant 'don't' messages into the growing child's belief system. They show up in adulthood as incapacities:

• Can't think, feel, succeed, be important, be close, belong, and many more

Meaning: A simple utterance such as "Don't move", "Stand straight", "Stay here" convey multiple meanings. (1) Linguistic - as conveyed through the use of language (Don't move); (2) Non Linguistic - As it is thought to mean (Keep standing here); (3) Existential - determining value, worth and dignity (I am ?); (4) Semiotic - meaning conveyed by signs, such as by fingers (Threat conveyed by finger); (5) Psychological - As conveyed by expressions (Or you'll receive a thrashing); Mother is loving no doubt. But the child is working to make meaning.

Personalization: Taking self blame for something that happened. A toy broke while playing. I take it that I am careless and good for nothing. It sticks on to me. The torn baby: Child overhearing mother telling someone that she was so badly torn during his/her (child's) birth that she can never be the same again. (The child does not know where and how torn.) The Foundling Script: The child wonders if its parents are in fact its parents, because this is not the way parents should be treating children.

Cybernetics: In electronic communication noise seriously affects information conveyed. In human communication noise increases the content of information and effectiveness of communication. Berne says that a precise message is psychologically inconceivable. In fact noise increases the content and quality of communication.

Decision: The child is severely handicapped. It is at its wits end to make sense of the way things happen and go. It therefore in a way concludes its value, worth and capacity for freedom and independence. It also generates a perceptual frame about significant others.  It conceptualises a limiting frame about the quality of life entitlements. It becomes boxed. It therefore grows to live a boxed, limiting life. The conditioning is generated by Script.

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. 

A request: Please take time out to write a comment.

Notes:

*Distorted Thinking Patterns: Click Here to know more.

Click Here for Index Sheet of TA Blogs
*