SymbiosisTransactional Analysis

Prepared By Manu Melwin Joy

Assistant ProfessorIlahia School of Management Studies

Kerala, India.Phone – 9744551114

Mail – manu_melwinjoy@yahoo.com

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Symbiosis

In Schiffian theory, a

symbiosis is said to occur

when two or more

individuals behave as

though between them

they form a single person.

Symbiosis

In a relationship like this,

the people concerned will

not be using their full

complement of ego states.

Typically, one of them will

be excluding Child and

using only Parent and

Adult.

Symbiosis

Once a symbiosis has been

established, the

participants feel

comfortable. There is a

sense that everybody is in

the role that is expected of

them.

Symbiosis

But that comfort is

acquired at a price :

the people in the

symbiosis are each

shutting out whole

areas of their own

grown up resources.

Symbiosis

In everyday relating,

people move into and out

of symbiosis with each

other from moment to

moment. Sometimes also,

a long term relationship is

founded upon symbiosis.

Symbiosis

There is one important

feature for symbiosis.

When one of the partners

perceives that the other is

about to withdraw from

the symbiotic pairing, the

other is likely to defend

against this withdrawal.

Symbiosis

Their belief is : “ without

the other, I wont be able

to stand on my own”.

Paradoxically, it is this

belief which gives

symbiosis its apparent

quality of stability.

Symbiosis

There is not guarantee

that you will feel more

comfortable in this

independent position that

you did in the mutual

leaning position.

Symbiosis

In fact, many people report

feeling less comfortable when

they move out of symbiosis.

They are aware that they have

more options – of moving,

breaking and making contract –

than they had when they were

propping each other up.

Symbiosis

When two people move

out of symbiosis in a

relationship, they have

more options, more

flexibility, less

predictability and no

guarantee of feeling more

comfortable initially.

References

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