HOW TO DRAW AN EGOGRAM

An egogram (developed by Jack Dusay) is a diagram drawn intuitively based on our perception

(or that of an outside person) of how we function from our different ego-states or parts of our

personality. When we are unaware of these different parts of our personality, we are often

unconscious or unaware of the way we are communicating and the positive or negative impact

we are having on others.

If we want to become effective helpers, then we need to become aware of the way(s) in which

we tend to communicate and seek to have more control over choosing how we communicate.

Steps in drawing your egogram.

1. Begin by drawing six boxes horizontally beside each other. Each box will represent one

of the six ego-states.

CP NP A NC CC RC

2. Think about the ego state which you tend to use most frequently. Then compare that

with the ego state that you think you tend to use the least frequently. Draw these two

ego states relative to each other. For example, the first two bars might look this this.

CP NP A NC CC RC

3. Now complete the other four bars to illustrate the comparative amounts of time you

spend in each those ego-state relative to the other two and to each other. (Remember

that the exact height of each bar is not important and that you are drawing intuitively.)

4. The above example indicates that the person need to pay attention to communicating

more in their NP and their NC ego states than in their CP or RC ego states. Some

attention should also be paid to the CC ego state.

5. Jack Dusay suggests that according to the “constancy hypothesis”, “when one ego state

increases in intensity, another or others must decrease in order to compensate. This

shift in psychic energy occurs so that the total amount of energy may remain constant”.

Reference:

Stewart, I. & Joines V. (1987). TA today: A new introduction to Transactional Analysis. NC: Lifespace

Publishing.

CP NP A NC CC RC