Differences in University Students by Gender , Race , and College Major

The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to investigate transactional analysis ego state differences in gender, race and college major for university students. Three hundred students completed the Ego State Questionnaire-Revised (ESQ-R) voluntarily online. A three-way (gender by race by college major) independent-measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed that females scored significantly higher than males on the Nurturing Parent (NP) ego state. Results of the study did not support the hypothesis that there might be racial group differences in ego states. Introduction and Literature Review According to Berne (1961), the structure of personality is comprised of three organs: the extereopsyche, the neopsyche, and the archaeopsyche. These organs manifest themselves phenomenologically and operationally as three types of ego states called Parent, Adult, and Child, respectively (Berne, 1961). Berne (1957) holds that these ego states exert major influence on how people feel and behave in interpersonal relationships. Berne (1961) defines an ego state as a set of related behavior patterns and feelings. According to the tenets of Functional Analysis, there are five functional ego states: The Free Child (FC) or Natural Child (NC), the Adapted Child (AC), the Adult (A), the Nurturing Parent (NP), and the Critical Parent (CP). Both parts of the Child Ego state (FC and AC) function in a positive and negative manner (Woollams & Brown, 1978). The Positive Free Child (FC) expresses directly what is on his or her mind, has fun without hurting anyone in the process, and expresses natural feelings, needs, and wants in a spontaneous manner (Woollams, Brown, & Huige, 1976). The Negative Free Child (FC), while having fun or expressing self, may injure self or others (Woollams et al., 1976). The Adapted Child (AC) is compliant and rebellious. It also functions in a positive and negative manner. The Positive Compliant Adapted Child uses adapted behavior to avoid pain or get what is desired without being overly compliant. The Positive Compliant Adapted Child (AC) adapts helpfully by complying (Woollams & Brown, 1978). The Negative Compliant Adapted Child adapts harmfully by complying such as in an overextension of self (Woollams & Brown, 1978), i.e., discounting self to please others. The Adapted Child (AC) also functions in a manner that is helpless and one that is highly influenced by drivers (prescriptions for living). The individual is OK if he or she does these: Be Strong, Be Perfect, Try Hard, Hurry UP, and Please Me. Those parts of the Adapted Child (AC) that are helpless or highly influenced by drivers are not perceived as functioning in a positive manner. The Adult (A) ego state functions in a logical and methodological manner. Its function closely resembles a computer. The Adult (A) is analytical, abstract, and highly cognitive. It is the information processor of the personality. Both functional parts of the Parent ego state (NP and CP) function in a positive and negative manner that is expressed inwardly toward self (internal) and outwardly toward others (external). The Negative Critical Parent (CP) is condescending, critical, judgmental, moralistic, and authoritative. The Positive Critical