Transactional Analysis : Ulterior Transactions

In the last two lessons we've talked about transactions, complementary and crossed. In this lesson we'll deal with another form of transaction called the ulterior transaction.

For example: A and Z are living together and meet at the kitchen sink one morning. A begins with a scowl and puts emphasis on the word 'your': "I see the sink is full of your dirty dishes." B responds with a smirk and dragging out the word 'all': "Yep they're all mine."

In an ulterior transaction there are actually two sub-transactions or messages, a social one and a psychological one. The psychological message is hidden and covert while the social message is overt and easily heard. Frequently with ulterior transactions, the social message is Adult to Adult but the psychological message is Parent to Child or Child to Parent. So two things are happening at the same time in an ulterior transaction. First is the words that are spoken and the meaning they convey, and secondly is the tone, gesture, posture, emphasis, and all other 'body language' with the implied meanings they convey.

In the above example, A's opening transaction has the social message of an observation - a simple statement of what is observed. The psychological message however is much different and probably something like "You left this mess and I do not like it. You are naughty!" B responds to each message in kind. To the social level stimulus B replies with a social response, a confirmation of A's observation. However the psychological response is something like "I know you get upset when I leave my dishes. Ha ha, ya old fart!"

The dynamics of the interaction begins with Adult to Adult at the social level, and Parent to Child at the psychological level. The response is Adult to Adult at the social level and Child to Parent at the psychological level. Notice that each component is complementary. So unless someone crosses a transaction, the dialogue will proceed in this manner.

The behavioral outcome of an ulterior transaction will be determined at the psychological level. So in this example, Z is responding from a rebellious Child so we can be sure that Z will not do dishes anytime soon regardless of what is said. Often what happens is that as the interchange proceeds, the social message and psychological message converge and merge. For example A might pick up after Z's response with "Of course they're yours, who else is immature enough to leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight? My point is, when will you wash them and get this place cleaned up and civilized?" Z comes back with: "Yea well at least I'm not an anal retentive neat freak like some people around here!"

We'll leave A and Z here to continue their dialogue, which they will since the transactions are complementary Parent - Child, unless one of them crosses a transaction.