In Praise of Loving “Betrayal”: Reflections on the Steiner–Novellino Letters and the Life of Behavioral Science Organizations

Gianpiero Petriglieri

Abstract note from the guest editor expressing interest in As a reviewer for the Transactional Analy- publishing it in the April TAJ 2005 theme issue sis Journal (TAJ), in October 2004 the au- on “Transactional Analysis and Psychoanaly- thor read the Steiner-Novellino correspon- sis,” I felt intrigued, curious, and honored to dence, which was being considered for pub- have a preview of this most interesting and lication in the April 2005 theme issue on colorful exchange. After a couple of readings, “Transactional Analysis and Psychoanaly- I found myself agreeing with the editor that the sis.” In this article, he uses his unfolding material deserved publication, and for several feelings and thoughts on reading it—in his reasons. First, although the content is in the roles as TAJ reviewer and as a member and public domain—having been extensively cov- officer of the International Transactional ered by the authors in their scholarly works Analysis Association (ITAA)—as a starting (e.g., Novellino, 1990, 2003; Steiner, 2003)— point for reflecting on the relationship be- the nature of the exchange merited inclusion in tween tradition and innovation, integrity, a theme issue on “Transactional Analysis and betrayal, and the vitality, or lack thereof, of Psychoanalysis.” Second, the authors’ voices behavioral science organizations. deserve to be heard for their prominence as ______theoreticians. Third, and most important in my view, the exchange of letters articulates central When Fritz Perls died, TA-trained lay ana- theoretical, methodological, and political de- lyst and teacher Carolyn Crane had asked bates in transactional analysis today. Berne, “What happens to the followers of It is a delight to witness the evolution of the a great man who dies?” Eric had replied TAJ into a welcoming host of good-quality aca- bluntly, “They always get screwed. Either demic argument between theoreticians and way they get screwed. If they go on believ- practitioners within and outside the transac- ing in the system it becomes a dead end, tional analysis community. The more debate we and if they go out on their own in reaction can encourage in the pages of our journal, the to the death of the leader they get equally better. Of course, such debate needs to be car- lost. (Jorgensen & Jorgensen, 1984, pp. ried out in the Adult tone that a scholarly pub- 8-9) lication deserves and in the OK-OK spirit that No one needs psychoanalysis but some is part of our values. We need to keep these people might want it. Psychoanalysis, as a standards close to our hearts. However, I would theory and practice, should not pretend to be surprised if we could ever fully live up to be important instead of keeping itself in- them. I consider the presence of a strong feel- teresting (importance is a cure for noth- ing tone, the crossing of the threshold between ing). You would think, reading the profes- knowledge and belief, and the existence of overt sional literature, that it is psychoanalysis political agendas compatible with publication. that mattered and not what it was about. Were we to purge our journal of such ex- (Phillips, 1995, p. xvi) changes, there would probably be no writing— or no writing worth reading. When I received the Steiner-Novellino corre- Obviously, however, affect, beliefs, and poli- spondence (Steiner & Novellino, 2005), with a tical aims cannot be all there is to an article.

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The Adult ego states of authors, reviewers, and the reason that led me to recommend that we editors need to keep a watchful eye. The letters publish the epistolary in its original format. by Steiner and Novellino provide a good ex- What intrigued me most about this exchange ample of such a transparent and thought- was the unfolding of the discourse. It is a fasci- provoking exchange between authors in dis- nating document of the inevitable theoretical agreement. Strong feelings are clearly there, and political struggles occurring in all organi- points are argued with quasi-religious zeal, and zations of behavioral professionals, especially political agendas are frankly discussed. Never- those originally born around a novel and vi- theless, Adult argument is in close proximity, if sionary idea. not always in executive control, and the authors explicitly use transactional analysis principles Tradition and Innovation and methods to tackle the difficulties in their Looking at it from this angle—and with my communication—providing a living proof of ITAA member “hat” on—I became aware of the potency of transactional analysis to sustain reading the exchange with a shade of sadness. interpersonal dialogue. The sadness, I believe, was about the relation- As I crafted a review of the Steiner-Novel- ship between tradition and innovation. It seems lino correspondence, a fleeting doubt impinged rather difficult for us humans—who are differ- on my delight in the openness of the exchange ent from trees in fundamental ways—to regard and my appreciation for the authors’ points of roots for what they are: anchoring and nourish- view and interpersonal skills: What form might ing parts for the trunk, branches, leaves, flow- best suit publication of such debates in the ers, and fruits. In a tree, roots reach under the Transactional Analysis Journal? Normally, I ground and do work for the rest of the plant, would have suggested that Steiner and Novel- and for themselves. Leaves, flowers, seeds, and lino convert their letters into an exchange of so on, in turn, do their work to keep themselves, position papers. Within such a format, both au- the plant—and consequently the roots—alive. thors would have had a chance to deepen their But defending? Both Steiner and Novellino arguments, and the journal would have avoided claim to be defending “Berne’s roots.” Were setting a precedent. One cannot, as a matter of we to turn a behavioral lens on this claim, we course, have an enlightened, interesting, and would have to pause and wonder. Where is the circumstantiated exchange of views with a col- threat coming from? We promptly externalize league and expect to see it published as such in the threats; we identify external attacks to our a scholarly journal—even if you are a leading personal, theoretical, methodological, and or- author of papers and books. In this particular ganizational integrity. But might there be case, however, I found myself of two minds. equally dangerous threats within? On the one hand, a traditional exchange of Every organization, to survive and thrive, position papers would have helped readers needs to accomplish its primary task (Miller & deepen their appreciation of the content of Rice, 1967). This requires boundaries, pro- Steiner’s and Novellino’s letters: the relation- cesses, values, and leadership, which contain ship of transactional analysis to Freudian psy- and direct the flow of the organization’s re- choanalysis; Berne’s relatedness to Freud; the sources and the energy of its people. When authors’ relatedness to Berne, Freud, and each boundaries become rigid, processes cannot be other; the existence of many “psychoanalyses”; questioned, values become impositions, and the validity and utility of psychodynamic and leadership turns messianic; then trouble is in transactional analysis concepts; the purpose of sight. Revolutionary ideas become compelling the TAJ and the ITAA—only some of the top- ideologies and are then revered as the “glue” ics that the debate stimulates us to reflect upon. that holds an organization together and pro- On the other hand, there is value in being vides cohesion among its members. If we con- open. The reader needs to see things as they tinue with this metaphor, however, it carries a are, not sanitized, and have a chance to witness disturbing prophecy: What happens to glue the process of the debate. This is, ultimately, with the passing of time?

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“Every family is an institution, and the child Sound coherence, predictability, reliability, does not learn much flexibility from them,” efficacy, validity, and so on are necessary attri- wrote Berne (1972/1975, p. 57). We all know butes for a theoretical framework. In so many rigid families—and rigid institutions, for sure. words, a theory needs to hang together clearly; That institutions limit individual freedom is if it contradicts itself, it is usually neither popu- inevitable. That they do so rigidly might often lar nor practically helpful. An organizational be the case. But is the rigidity inevitable? De- framework, however, much like an individual spite his opinion of “institutions,” one of Berne’s psyche, works the opposite way: To be viable, major accomplishments was to found a suc- it must allow, if not actively encourage, the ex- cessful one—the ITAA—which several dec- pression of difference and apparent contradic- ades later aspires to be a learning community tions. Painful as they might be, internal conflict that is encouraging of individual thinking, re- —and occasional separation, as well—are nec- spectful of tradition, and welcoming of novelty essary for vitality and growth. For individuals, and debate. As Berne demonstrated with his groups, and organizations, development often life’s work, this requires curiosity and intellec- begins with an emotionally loaded polarization tual acumen as much as distraction and disobe- (Wood & Petriglieri, 2005), whereas remaining dience (Petriglieri, 2004, p. 7). In that respect, “undivided” for too long leads to developmen- the talk about “father’s” programs and vision in tal arrest or psychological inflation. the Steiner-Novellino letters leaves me some- Not all kinds of integrity are necessarily what perplexed. good, nor are they synonymous with progress and development, as is evident to observers of Integrity and Betrayal history. For example, in the name of defending In their exchange, Steiner and Novellino, like “our integrity,” many a nation has acted ques- many of us, attach familiar value judgments to tionably, to say the least. And many a psycho- the words “integrity” and “betrayal.” They both analytic institute has ostracized, or denied ac- seem to associate integrity—of transactional cess, to disturbingly creative members. As a analysis or the ITAA (which, incidentally, do leader, Freud was no exception to the rule that not necessarily coincide)—with the “good” and wants bearers of subversive principles—and the “to be wished for.” Betrayal, on the other what is more subversive than the unconscious? hand—of Berne’s original vision or of his theo- —to be feared to be undermining our organiza- retical parenthood—appears to be “bad” and tions. hence not to be attempted. Looked at more If anything, we might want to learn from psy- closely, however, integrity is no simple matter. choanalysis what happens when our institutions Social scientists attempting to examine its func- become insular and religious adherence re- tion in organizational behavior find integrity an places creative followership and freedom to elusive subject, as it means different things to think. The Oedipal complex per se might not be people in different roles (e.g., Hooijberg & as ubiquitous as Freud believed, but rigidly Lane, 2005). Merriam Webster’s Collegiate maintained dogma that makes it impossible to Dictionary (2000) lists three revealing mean- “betray the father” creates conditions in which ings for the word, which originates from the the only choice left for radically creative con- Latin “integer” (entire, not broken, undivided). tributors is the Oedipal one—“unintentional” One is “firm adherence to a code of especially parricide. Unlike what many argue, I am con- moral or artistic values” (as in honesty); the vinced that if psychoanalytic institutions had second is “an unimpaired condition” (as in not been so rigid, Berne (and Jung, Adler, soundness); and the third is “the quality or state Klein, and others) would still have enriched the of being complete or undivided.” While pos- theory and practice of psychology just as much. sessing the first kind of integrity—being mor- It is hard—and Freudian—to believe that the ally sound and honest—is a laudable aspiration, only drive of the creativity of individuals such being unimpaired and undivided is not always as those just mentioned was to pay Freud back. conducive to individual and collective growth. I am more inclined to think that creativity is a

Vol. 35, No. 3, July 2005 287 GIANPIERO PETRIGLIERI universal principle in its own right, and not —whether it wants a relationship with this or simply the handmaiden of revenge. that school of psychoanalysis. To say that the Obedience and rebellion are not the only unconscious and transference belong to Freud ways for an individual to preserve his or her in- —and psychoanalysis—is like arguing that the tegrity, just as indoctrination and ostracism are analysis of social transactions and life scripts not the only ways for an organization to pre- belongs to Berne or transactional analysis. serve its integrity. Creativity demands a certain Things become complicated, of course, be- degree of freedom. When an institution grants cause there is not just one “unconscious”: it, we have innovation; when it does not, we There are many—in psychology, science, and have schism. Had many “fathers” and “moth- the arts. The unconscious has the disagreeable ers” of behavioral sciences been less insecure habit of not limiting itself to the psychologist’s and more comfortable with a loving “betrayal,” consulting room—the one with a couch in it. we would probably witness a less fragmented But we have no choice but to engage with it. theoretical and institutional landscape in psy- Among the basic questions that therapists should chology today. ask themselves, Berne (1966/1994) posed the For almost a century, students of the psyche following one: “What will this hour contribute have demonstrated that it is possible to be a to [the client’s] unfolding?” (p. 64, italics ad- psychoanalyst—and a very sound, effective, in- ded). Offering such a contribution requires the fluential one—while disagreeing with many of capacity, so to speak, to side with physis, or the Freud’s, Jung’s, Adler’s, or Klein’s axioms. Let Self, or whatever we prefer to call the inner us hope that the same privilege is granted to dynamic core of human nature that strives for transactional analysts vis-à-vis the views of wholeness, development, and fulfilment of an Berne. Loving betrayal, pursued with faith and individual’s potential—once we remove the ob- responsible dedication, has been, on more than stacles that impede its work (p. 64; Berne, one occasion, the germ of true novelty. It is 1972/1975, p. 78; Jung, 1921/1971, p. 460; crucial, then, that our transactional analysis Yalom, 2003, p. 1). Good therapy, after all— organizations remain flexibly bounded spaces like genuine friendship and true love—is a mix- in which tradition and innovation can argue, ture of subtle knife and soothing embrace. debate, fight, hurt themselves, embrace, and all The current wealth of contact between trans- of the wonderful things that these two princi- actional analysis and psychologies of the un- ples do in a lively community—even if today’s conscious appears as a refreshing “recovery” to innovation might at a first glance appear simi- Novellino and an engulfing “regression” to lar to yesterday’s rejected tradition. It is hardly Steiner. Both are most likely right. As is evi- surprising that in a theoretical landscape that dent to practitioners of psychotherapy, many a originated in the impulse to provide an alternative recovery and spurt of growth begins with —or an improvement—to psychoanalysis, new- regression—often an overwhelming one—that er generations find their identity wrestling with pushes individuals or organizations to seek a domain of the psyche that is being, let us say, help for transcending their current condition. It momentarily overlooked: the unconscious. is only in the painful grip of scripted predica- ments that most of us can summon enough Who Owns the Unconscious? courage and frustration to seek help in order to While a therapy that “cures” can aspire to be change. Conversely, any developmental oppor- a science more than an art, a therapy that tunity poses a threat to one’s current identity. “heals”—that is, the kind of therapy that we The tension of such “regressions,” managed sen- might not strictly need and yet often demand sitively, bears the fruit of more differentiated —needs to meddle with a domain that is not relationships with ourselves and others. Jung simply biological or social, but is spiritual as (1928/1969) captured this psychological move- well. In my view, an ambitious theory of per- ment most vividly when he wrote the following: sonality and method of psychotherapy cannot What the regression brings to the surface avoid dealing with unconscious phenomena certainly seems at first sight to be slime

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from the depths; but if one does not stop giving permission to the capacity to follow short at a superficial evaluation and re- faithfully, if uncertainly, unborn possibilities. frains from passing judgment on the basis Retaining our openness for surprises is as fun- of a preconceived dogma, it will be found damental as having a vision. that this “slime” contains not merely in- This leads me to a poignant feature of the compatible and rejected remnants of every- Steiner-Novellino letters that I find touching: day life, or inconvenient and objectionable both authors, while arguing fiercely, have re- animal tendencies, but also germs of new tained the desire to surprise each other with life and vital possibilities for the future. wit. For that, as well, they should be commend- (pp. 34-35) ed. Their dialogue stimulates us to reflect on Shall we then look at moments of regression our theories, on our institutions, and on our- as a curse, or pause and help their developmen- selves—with hope. tal purpose to emerge? Gianpiero Petriglieri, M.D., is Italian and now lives in Zürich, Switzerland. He is visiting Conclusion professor at CBS Executive, Copenhagen Busi- Novellino and Steiner, as leading thinkers ness School, Denmark, and a psychiatrist and within the transactional analysis community, psychotherapist in private practice. He is cur- articulate the tension between the two souls of rently ITAA vice president of research and in- transactional analysis—the cognitive-behavioral novation. He is also a member of the A. K. Rice and the psychodynamic. In addition to that, Institute for the Study of Social Systems and “personal integrity” and “organizational inte- the National Training Laboratory (NTL) Insti- grity” appear to be, as usual, at odds. The ten- tute for Applied Behavioral Science. He can be sion between the two is felt more strongly the more removed one is from the organization’s reached at [email protected] or at Paulstrasse 14, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland. founder and/or the less identified one is with the organization. These are tensions we must REFERENCES not discount if we are to grow as lively and cre- Berne, E. (1975). What do you say after you say hello?: ative individuals while remaining part of the The psychology of human destiny. London: Corgi. systems to which we belong—that is, if we (Original work published 1972) really want to create and maintain lively and Berne, E. (1994). Principles of group treatment. Menlo Park, CA: Shea Books. (Original work published 1966) creative associations. When a community can- Hooijberg, R., & Lane, N. (2005). Do you need integrity to not manage tensions and conflict, then creativ- be a successful leader? IMD Perspectives for Mana- ity stops—growth stops—and the community gers, 116, 1-4. either dies or forges an enemy. Whether Berne’s Jorgensen E. W., & Jorgensen, H. I. (1984). Eric Berne. Master gamesman. New York: Grove Press. alleged opinion about the inevitable doom Jung, C. G. (1969). On psychic energy. In H. Read, M. awaiting followers of a “great man who dies” Fordham, & G. Adler (Eds.), C. G. Jung: The collected proves itself an accurate prophecy largely de- works (Vol. 8, pp. 3-66) (2nd ed.). London: Routledge & pends on the followers and their institutions. It Kegan Paul. (Original work published 1928) Jung, C. G. (1971). Psychological types. In H. Read, M. is up to us as members of the transactional Fordham, & G. Adler (Eds.), C. G. Jung: The collected analysis community to rise to the challenge of works (Vol. 6). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. “holding” the above tensions and channeling (Original work published 1921) their energy toward progressive aims (Wood & Merriam Webster’s collegiate dictionary. (2000). Elec- tronic Version 2.5. Petriglieri, 2005). Miller, E. J., & Rice, A. K. (1967). Systems of organiza- Transactional analysts constantly witness tion. London: Tavistock. how truly life changing the falling apart of a Novellino, M. (1990). Unconscious communication and script’s integrity can be—or the flat-out “be- interpretation in transactional analysis. Transactional Analysis Journal, 20, 168-172. trayal” of Parental injunctions. This is why Novellino, M. (2003). Transactional psychoanalysis. making a life, reworking a script—and shaping Transactional Analysis Journal, 33, 223-230. an organization, for that matter—all require the Petriglieri, G. (2004). What do you want to learn tomor- artistic gift of suspending cynical disbelief and row? The Script, 34(4), 1, 7.

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Phillips, A. (1995). Terrors and experts. London: Faber Transactional Analysis Journal, 35, 110-118. and Faber. Wood, J. D., & Petriglieri G. (2005). Transcending polari- Steiner, C. (2003). Core concepts of a stroke-centered zation: Beyond binary thinking. Transactional Analysis transactional analysis. Transactional Analysis Journal, Journal, 35, 31-39. 33, 178-181. Yalom, I. D. (2003). The gift of therapy. New York: Har- Steiner, C., & Novellino, M. (2005). Theoretical diversity: per Collins. A debate about transactional analysis and psychoanalysis.

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