Recap – The Emotional Environment

You make the weather. You decide whether things will calm down or blow up.

The argument isn’t always about what you think it’s about.

Status can be a confounding factor in our interactions.

Being aware of our emotions is the first step to controlling them.

We have a responsibility to model that behaviour to students.

http://www.dcity.org/braingames/stroop/

Transactional Analysis –a very brief and inexpert introduction

People are OK; thus each person has validity, importance, equality of respect

Everyone (with only few exceptions, such as the severely brain-damaged) has the capacity to think

People decide their story and destiny, and these decisions can be changed

I’m OK, you’re OK.

Life position:

"I'm Not OK, You're OK" (I-U+) Eeyore"I'm Not OK, You're Not OK" (I-U-) Private Fraser"I'm not-OK, But You're Worse" (I-U--) Frasier Crane"I'm not-OK, You're Irrelevant" (I-U?) Marvin The Android"I'm a Bit More OK Than You Are" (I++U+) Tony Blair"I'm OK, You're Not OK" (I+U-) Jeffery Archer

"I'm OK, You're OK" (I+U+) All of us (ahem)

TA Relationships modelThere are three ego-states, or frames of mind.

Adult A balanced, mature state of mind in which decisions are taken without the clouding of major emotional influences – logical and calm. Computer processor or referee.

Parent A state in which we mimic the behaviour of our own parents or other authority figures we have known in the hope that we will be able to exert the influence over a third party that our parents once influenced over us.

Child A state in which our responses are likely to be emotional and to lack a grounding in responsibility. If we receive some negative feedback from a colleague we could sulk and accuse them of picking on us.

Sustainable transactions

Transactions which are complementary are sustainable indefinitely, but not always desirable.

Parent Parent

Adult Adult

Child Child

Unsustainable transactions

Crossed transaction lead to conflict

Parent Parent

Adult Adult

Child Child

Comfortable transactions

Students may try to push us into a relationship in which they are more comfortable

Parent Parent

Adult Adult

Child Child

Some micro-script examplesI haven’t finished my homework. I’ve just not had the time. I can explain more later if you want.

Don’t you lie to me. Do you think I was born yesterday? See me at the end of the lesson.

Parent Parent

Adult Adult

Child Child

Some micro-script examples

Well done. You’ve met all of your PM targets and I’m going to recommend you move to the third point post-threshold

Yes, yes, yes! You’re the best! I could kiss you! Brilliant!

Parent Parent

Adult Adult

Child Child

Task

Work in at least pairs. Write three micro-scripts of differently crossed conversations between teachers and students.

Now work out what could be done to uncross each situation.

If we want to assert the teachers authority and status, and make students feel weak, intimidated and undermined, how could we achieve that?

The Physical Environment

Work in small groups to design your perfect teaching and learning area