Claude Steiner

Claude Steiner is an important author and pioneer in the field of transactional analysis. Transactional analysis is a type of psychoanalytic psychology that endeavors to understand and improve human relationships.

Quotes

• Negative reinforcement is known to be most effective in shaping avoidance behavior extremely resistive to extinction.

• Because games, like eating junk food, are essentially bad habits based on poor learning experiences, they can be avoided and replaced with positive intimate interactions.

• Games fend off intimacy and isolate us from the strokes we really want.

• Getting out of the game by refusing to play any of the roles is the only workable choice.

• I have never been able to help anyone who didn't sincerely ask for help and who wasn't willing to recognize and analyze his own behavior honestly.

• The despair and hopelessness associated with their condition is dealt with by using alcohol as a sedative and mood elevator which gets them high, helps them forget their troubles, and makes life's daily difficulties bearable.

• As long as the alcoholic drinks, the partner preserves the appearance of blamelessness, while both know that this is not true.

• ...since alcoholism is a game] rather than a disease, a person can choose not to play. ... If one believes that then one can also believe that alcoholics can permanently change their life - for the better.

• I am in favor of tough mindedness but want to clarify that what I mean by I mean that working with alcoholics requires a clear, objective perception of the facts which at times is tough to maintain. But this needs to be coupled with a nurturing, loving outlook toward human beings