Abstract
Reviews approaches to the Parent ego state (PES). Psychological theories often seem to hold parents responsible for deviations in human behavior. Berne, in developing transactional analysis, emphasized the worth of the PES. The PES is considered a biological reality and a transmitter of rules and traditions which tend to favor the survival and betterment of the human species. The structure, content, genesis, and development of the PES are described. Application of the PES in a psychotherapeutic context are discussed and illustrative examples are given. Suggestions for future explorations of the PES are included.