Construct Validity of Transactional Analysis Ego States

Free Child, Adult, and Critical Parent

Datos Bibliográficos

ID20178710
AutoresJohn E Williams (0000-0002-1353-2685), John Watson (0000-0002-9614-4556), John R Watson, Paul A Walters, Paul Walters, J G P Williams, Janice G Williams
Año1983
Volumen13
Número1
Páginas43-49
Fecha de publicación1983-01-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaTransactional Analysis Journal (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0362-1537 • E-ISSN: 2329-5244
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1177/036215378301300109
OpenAlexW2559302560
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas4
Referencias citadas18

Transactional Analysis (TA) theory describes personality in terms of the relative strength of five functional ego states. Williams and Williams (1980) have devised a method for assessing ego-state strengths from self descriptions obtained from the Adjective Check List. This paper reports three studies concerned, respectively, with the construct validity of the Free Child, Adult, and Critical Parent scales. In each study, scores of university students on the particular ego state scale were compared to measures of other psychological variables, chosen because of their apparent relevance as judged from TA theory and previous research. Among the confirmed predictions were: the relationship of Free Child scores to openness to experience and sexuality; the relationship of Adult scores to emotional stability and impulsivity; and the relationship of Critical Parent scores to empathy and locus of control. Other theoretically derived predictions were not supported: for example, Free Child and creativity, Adult and convergent thinking, and Critical Parent and desire for control. Implications for TA theory and future research are noted. Additional informationNotes on contributorsJanice G. WilliamsThe first author, John E. Williams, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC. The other authors hold the MA from Wake Forest and are currently doctoral students with John R. Watson at the University of Pittsburgh, Paul A. Walters, III, at the University of Georgia, and Janice G. Williams at Vanderbilt University

Developmental psychology · Empathy · Id, ego and super-ego · Openness to experience · Personality · Psychoanalysis · Self · Self psychology · Transactional analysis · Personality Disorders and Psychopathology · Psychology · Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications · Social Psychology · Transactional Analysis in Psychotherapy