Games People Play - The Psychology of Human Relationships - Analysis of Games

Aug 25, 2026

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Games People Play examines how social interaction patterns shape human relationships through analysis of time structuring, transactions, and recurring behavioral scripts. It presents a framework for identifying games, distinguishing definitions, typical examples, origins, functions, and classifications. The book then organizes a practical “thesaurus of games,” including life games, marital games, and party games, outlining their typical roles and dynamics. The approach supports clearer interpersonal understanding and more effective communication.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages81

Reading Time3 h 24 min

AccessFree to download

Preface

Introduction

Social Intercourse

The Structuring of Time

Analysis of Games

Structural Analysis

Transactional Analysis

Procedures and Rituals

Pastimes

Games

Definition

A Typical Game

The Genesis of Games

The Function of Games

The Classification of Games

A Thesaurus of Games

Notation

Colloquialisms

Life Games

Alcoholic

Debtor

Kick Me

Now I've Got You

See What You Made Me Do

Marital Game

Corner

Courtroom

Frigid Woman

Harried

If It Weren't For You

Look How Hard I've Tried

Sweetheart

Party Games

Ain't It Awful

Blemish

Schlemiel

Eric Berne Games People Play The psychology of human relationships Table of contents PREFACE .........................................................................................................................................................................3 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................4 1 SOCIAL INTERCOURSE..........................................................................................................................................4 2 THE STRUCTURING OF TIME ...............................................................................................................................5 PART I ANALYSIS OF GAMES ...................................................................................................................................8 CHAPTER ONE STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS .....................................................................................................................8 CHAPTER TWO TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS ............................................................................................................ 10 CHAPTER THREE PROCEDURES AND RITUALS ......................................................................................................... 14 CHAPTER FOUR PASTIMES ....................................................................................................................................... 16 CHAPTER FIVE GAMES ............................................................................................................................................. 19 1 DEFINITION ....................................................................................................................................................... 19 2 A TYPICAL GAME .............................................................................................................................................. 20 3 THE GENESIS OF GAMES .................................................................................................................................24 4 THE FUNCTION OF GAMES ............................................................................................................................. 25 5 THE CLASSIFICATION OF GAMES .................................................................................................................. 26 PART II A THESAURUS OF GAMES........................................................................................................................28 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................................................28 1 NOTATION .......................................................................................................................................................... 28 2 COLLOQUIALISMS ............................................................................................................................................29 CHAPTER SIX LIFE GAMES .......................................................................................................................................30 1 ALCOHOLIC ....................................................................................................................................................... 30 2 DEBTOR .............................................................................................................................................................. 33 3 KICK ME ............................................................................................................................................................. 34 4 NOW I'VE GOT YOU, YOU SON OFA BITCH .................................................................................................. 35 5 SEE WHAT YOU MAD

FAQs

What does the book mean by “games” in human relationships?

“Games” are recurring interpersonal patterns with recognizable roles and predictable outcomes. The book explains their definition, typical structure, genesis, and functions.

How does the book analyze games in Part I?

Part I covers structural analysis, transactional analysis, procedures and rituals, pastimes, and then focuses on games through definition, typical examples, classification, and functional purpose.

What is included in the “thesaurus of games” in Part II?

Part II organizes a catalog of games, using notation and colloquialisms, and then details life games, marital games, and party games with named examples.

Aug 25, 2026

Upload by Hazel