Love is not a game of Chess,where you plan your next move,
But a game of Backgammon,where you Trust and Throw the Dice. – Rumi
Game is a series of duplex transactions which leads to a ‘switch’ and a well-defined, predictable ‘payoff’ that justifies a not-OK, or discounted (less-than) position.”.Berne defined a psychological game as “an ongoing series of complementary ulterior transaction progressing to a well-defined predictable outcome.”
Features of Game:
Games – How is it played ? Involve a Con. Con hooks up to a weakness. Weakness is a handle or a gimmick to get hold of in the respondent.eg.(fear, greed, sentimentality, irritability).After the mark is hooked, player pulls some sort of switch in order to get a payoff. Switch is followed by a moment of confusion or cross up while the mark tries to figure out what has happened to him. Both players collect their payoffs(feelings). Payoff is called a trading stamp. Game ends.Game is a series of duplex transactions which leads to a ‘switch’ and a well-defined, predictable ‘payoff’ that justifies a not-OK, or discounted (less-than) position.”Berne defined a psychological game as “an ongoing series of complementary ulterior transaction progressing to a well-defined predictable outcome.”
- Games are repetitive :A person follows the same pattern . Each of us have our favourite games which we keep repeating irrespective of different circumstances.
- Games are played without adult awareness : Most of the times people don’t realise that they themselves have helped set up the game. They continue to replay the game without being aware they are doing it.
- Games always end up with the players experiencing racket feelings : In a game both players are left feeling unpleasant.
- Games entail an exchange of ulterior transactions between the players: In every game there is something different happening at a psychological level from what seems to be happening at a social level. People repeat their games over and over again finding others whose games interlock with their own.
- Games always include a moment of surprise or confusion :. Here the player senses that something unexpected has happened, especially after people seemed to have changed their roles.
- Game analysis : There are five different ways to analyse and understand the dynamics of a game .
- Formal game analysis – analyses the various “advantages” of a game.
- Drama Triangle :Focusses on racket and game positions.
- Transactional game diagram : involves the diagnosis of ego states, including emphasis on psychological level communication.
- Symbiosis diagram : focusses on identifying the preferred ego states of each player.
- Formula G : describes the flow of a game, outlining the steps it will take once the initial moves are begun.
- Advantages of games :
- Helps to pass the time with people.
- Enables to main the basic life position.
- Meet the need to acquire negative strokes.
- Helps to confirm parental injunctions.
- Creates pseudo intimacy.
- Aids to mask our real and authentic feelings. Games plays out as follows:
- An opening con (C), an invite from person A to person B into the game, has to hook person B’s gimmick (G).
- When B responds (R) the game is on.
- With B hooked, person A can pull the switch (S) which sends person B into complete confusion or cross up (X).
- Once the cross up has happened then both parties can claim their payoff (P).
Game analysis using game formula : Example
Con : Shweta signals Anupama her desire to play a game with her( 1)nonverbal communication(rolled up eyes & meaningful wink).(2)stating her observations to Anupama about Nisha and waits for a response from Anupama rather than telling what she already knows and asking directly for what she wants.
Gimmick : Anupama gimmick is her need to feel powerful and acceptance in the group (as a cover up for her inadequacy in work performance). She communicates the gimmick by her (1) nonverbal behaviour,(2) her loaded suggestions and snide remarks,(3)her immediate response to Shweta’s criticism of Nisha.
Response : Social response of feeling very important and powerful people in the clan. Sometimes this leads to lack of intimate relationships of the team members with Shweta and Anupama.
Switch : Anupama switched her role and loyalties and reveals everything to Nisha especially all the details said by Shweta behind Nisha’s back.
Cross up :Shweta experiences moment of silence, disbelief ,anger and confusion . Her ego state changes from CP to AC(Shweta feels victimised and at receiving end of Anupama’s betrayal.
Payoff :Shweta feels angry, betrayed.Anupama derives triumph and a sadistic pleasure. Nisha feels happy to gain trust of Anupama. People are sometimes surprised when after having engaged in a pleasant stroking for a period of time, they are suddenly aware of an emotional element which is tense ,hostile, sad or unpleasant.They have been playing a game,without Adult awareness,so that the racket feeling payoff comes as a surprise.This racket feeling results from a discount either of the self or someone else.This ranges from a Victims sadness or confusion to a Persecutors anger or triumph to a rescuers concern or pity
Suparna's Yugen 