Skip to Main Content
3
Views
2
CrossRef citations
Altmetric

Articles

A Transactional Analytic View of War and Peace

Pages 68-79
Published online: 28 Dec 2017
 
Translator disclaimer

Since Eric Berne did not provide an in-depth objective analysis of war as a transactional game, the author takes on the daunting task of confronting this horseman of the apocalypse. He focuses on intergroup conflicts, which can escalate into violence that results in mortal combat. The structural and transactional bases of violent conflict are examined to show how contaminated thinking from polarized political and religious ideologies and feelings lead to such conflict. The example of two countries in conflict is used to illustrate crossed and ulterior transactions that can interfere with peace efforts. Using Berne’s (1972) Formula G, the author introduces an example of a game that he calls “Tyrants and Terrorists” to demonstrate how a game of war can start. For wars in general, he uses Berne’s original analysis of life games. The goal of this article is to stimulate dialogue on how transactional analysts, working together with the international community, can contribute their expertise to preventing war.

Additional information

Author information

Leonard P. Campos

Author Biography
Leonard P. Campos, PhD, Teaching and Supervising Transactional Analyst (psychotherapy), has been a member of the ITAA for 46 years. He is also a Life Member of the American Psychological Association and the California Psychological Association. He was trained by Robert and Mary Goulding in the redecision therapy branch of transactional analysis and had a practice in that modality for 32 years. He can be reached at 1606 Oakview Dr., Roseville, CA 95661, USA; email: ; website: http://www.TA-Doctor.com. Parts of this article were presented at a workshop sponsored by the USA branch of the United Nations Association, Sacramento, California, chapter on 16 March 2013 under the title “Accounting for Psychological Issues in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict”; parts were also presented at the 2013 USA TA Association conference in Long Beach, California, on 5 October 2013, under the title “The Power of Social Transactional Analysis.”