PROCESS SCRIPT AND GREEK MYTHOLOGY CHARACTERS

PROCESS SCRIPT AND GREEK MYTHOLOGY CHARACTERS

Dr. Joshy K. T.

Introduction

Process Script refers to the patterned behaviors and responses that a person uses on a day-to-day or second-by-second basis. Process scripts are life patterns. It deals with the how of the script. It shows how a person implements his bad script in life i.e., how we live in that bad script over time. Eric Berne, the founder of Transactional Analysis (TA), developed a theory involving six "Process Scripts." These are psychological scripts that individuals follow unconsciously throughout their lives. Each script represents a life pattern, often shaped by early childhood experiences. Berne compared these life scripts to characters from Greek mythology, which embody similar themes and outcomes.

Berne points out that a person‘s life plan is mostly influenced by his/her injunctions, while lifestyle is mostly influenced by his/her drivers. There are 6 process script patterns or scripty lifestyles. These patterns are called Until, After, Never, Always, Almost-1, Almost-2, and Open-Ended process scripts. Eric Berne compared these 6 scripts with the characters in Greek Mythology. Each of these process scripts is associated with drivers.

Until Process script: People following an "Until" script believe they cannot be happy or achieve success until a specific condition is met. This condition often seems unattainable or is continuously postponed. They set certain targets to be completed before enjoying their life. “I can’t have fun until I have finished my work.” “After I retire, I can go for a picnic.” “Once the children are grown up, my problems will be over and then I can enjoy”. Eric Berne compared the ‘Until’ process script with the Greek Mythology character Hercules who was to complete a big task to qualify to become a demi-god. His story goes like this. God Hera was an Olympian goddess in Greek mythology known as the queen of the gods. She had an enmity with the forefathers of Hercules. When Hercules was born, Hera sent two snakes to kill him in his crib. The infant Hercules was unusually strong and fearless and killed the snakes. But Hera kept up her dirty tricks on Hercules. She made Hercules temporarily insane and caused him to murder his beloved wife and their two children. Later on, realizing his mistake Hercules approached God Apollo the god of truth, and pleaded for mercy.

God Apollo understood that it was not the fault of Hercules and was due to Hera’s vengeful actions. But God Apollo gave a penance that Hercules should do some 12 tough tasks. Once Hercules completes the task, he will be absolved of his guilt and he will be made Demi-God.

But, after each task, he was given a new task. Like this, he completed many big tasks. Instead of making him a Demi-God, Apollo only promised that he would live forever among the gods at Mount Olympus.

The first task given to him was to steal the golden apples of Zeus. These apples were in a garden and guarded by a hundred-headed dragon. Hercules did not know how to overcome these guards and steal the golden apples. He sought the help of Atlas who was holding Earth for years. Hercules made a deal with Atlas. If Atlas fetched the golden apples, Hercules would hold up the earth for some time. Atlas was waiting for a chance to escape from holding the earth. So he agreed. Atlas fetched the apples and told Hercules that he would take the apples to King. In fact, Atlas wanted to escape from holding up the earth. Hercules understood Atlas’s plan. He made a counter plan. Hercules asked Atlas to take the earth for a moment while as he wanted to place some soft padding on his shoulders. Atlas agreed and took the earth back on his shoulders. Suddenly Hercules grabbed the golden apples and left. He gave it to the King. As usual, king gave him a new task. He spent his life completing his tasks and forgot the joys and finer side of life.

This process script deprives affected persons by making them postpone joy and happiness to future times. Whenever they want to be happy, they will be reminded of the unfinished task. My brother Sunil is a devoted manager. He seldom takes leave. He will not go home until he completes all the day's work. Hence he finds no time to enjoy himself with his family. These types of people think in the following way: “I will submit the presentation and then have my dinner”. For this type of people, enjoyment of life remains a mirage. Their Driver is ‘Be Perfect’

2) After Process script: People with an "After" script believe that something bad will happen after success or happiness is achieved. This leads to a constant fear of impending doom. They are almost the opposite of ‘Until’. They believe that if they enjoy today, they may have to weep tomorrow. They are always anxious about the future, ever expecting some calamity to follow. When they start their vehicle their first thought is about the probability of an accident. When children are late from school or the spouse is late from office, their mind is burdened with the possibility of calamity. They say, “You can have your fun for a while and not long, otherwise your troubles will begin.

Eric Berne compared ‘Until’ process scripts with the Greek Mythology character Damocles. According to Greek Mythology, Damocles was always flattering his king saying that the king is fortunate to have power and authority. As a response, the king offered to switch roles with Damocles for one day so that Damocles could taste the King’s fortune. Damocles accepted the king's proposal. Damocles sat on the king's throne with the service of beautiful attendants. But, the king hung a sword above the throne with a single hair of a horse's tail. This was to remind Damocles of the fact that along with the king’s fortune, there is a responsibility. Damocles was afraid and begged the king for permission to leave the throne. He felt that happiness is not long-lasting as there is potential problems in waiting.

People with this process script are always anxious about the future, expecting that some calamity will follow. They say, “Don’t laugh too much today or else you will have to cry tomorrow”. “Don’t be too happy with your exam papers today or else tomorrow’s exam may be tough”. Their ‘Driver’ is ‘Please Others’  

3) Never process script: Individuals with a "Never" script are caught in a cycle of endless striving without ever achieving their goals. They may work hard but feel as though they are constantly being pushed back to the starting point. The lives of people affected by this script process are of cursed. They always run after something they do not have. They cannot enjoy life though they have adequate facilities at their disposal. They never reach their goal. They never finish their tasks. Since they are not satisfied with their present life, they never experience intimacy or enjoy sex, and to succeed professionally. They say: “I don’t get whatever I want most”. “Life is tough for me, I’m constantly struggling, as always. “Nothing is easily available to me, I’ve to struggle for everything”. “Man proposes, God disposes”.

Eric Berne compared ‘Never’ process scripts with the Greek Mythology character Tantalus who is inside a pool of water with all pleasant things to eat and drink. But these things lying on the edge of a pool are beyond his reach. He remained tantalized lifelong.

The story goes like this. Tantalus murdered his son and served the flesh to the gods as a stew during a feast as an offering. The gods immediately realized the grave sin Tantalus had made. He was punished for trying to trick the gods into eating his son’s flesh. He was made to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree with low branches, with the fruit just outside his reach and the water always receding before he could take a drink.

People with the 'NEVER’ script are always running after something they do not get just like Tantalus. Since they are not satisfied with their present life, they never experience intimacy or enjoy things, and never succeed professionally. Their Driver is ‘Be Strong’

4) ‘Always’ Process script: The "Always" script involves repetitive behavior where individuals feel compelled to continue the same actions or patterns without change, often leading to exhaustion or frustration. They think living is always working and suffering. They will go from one unsatisfactory relationship, job, or locality to another. People who belong to the Always script say” My fate is to suffer always. Why do I always get such a negative deal?” “Why does this always happen to me?” “Why does this always follow me?” Why do I always get such horrible bosses to report to?”

Eric Berne compared ‘Never’ process scripts with the Greek Mythology character Arachne in Greek mythology who angered the goddess Minerva and who turned Arachne into a spider. The story goes like this. Arachne was a famous weaver. Greek Gods liked her. But as years passed, she became arrogant and challenged God Minerva, the god of war and art, to a weaving contest. Minerva tried to warn Arachne about her behavior, but Arachne neglected it. God Minerva accepted the challenge & defeated Arachne in the competition. Arachne was shocked and tried to hang herself in despair. Minerva took pity on her and let Arachne live, but for the rest of time, she should remain suspended. Arachne’s body was shrunk and she became a spider-making web always. She was cursed to spend the rest of her life weaving the web. She always tried & tried but failed. Persons of this script process keep on doing the same thing without success.

Some employees go on trying to complete their jobs. In fact, the jobs may be very simple. But they get stuck to the work and are not able to complete it. When the boss asks about the progress of the work, they will say, “I couldn’t complete it, sir”. These types of people will always be working and suffering. They will go from one unsatisfactory relationship, job, or locality to another. Their ‘Driver’ is ‘Try Hard’ 

5) Almost Type-1: People with an "Almost" type-1 script come very close to achieving their goals but never quite succeed, often sabotaging themselves at the last moment. Such people make “all” efforts to become successful but in the end, something happens and they lose their due share. Almost the script says, I almost made it this time. Berne called this pattern “over and over”. Persons affected by this script almost reach the last stage of the work but, fail in the last stage. Hence they have to keep doing the same thing without success. They will say, “This time I almost reached the top of the promotion list, but missed”. “My son had prepared very well for exams, but he fell sick.

Eric Berne compared ‘Almost Type-1’ process scripts with the Greek Mythology character Sisyphus who was condemned by Greek Gods to spend eternity pushing a huge rock up a hill.

Sisyphus was punished for playing tricks with the Gods. He was placed on a hillside with a heavy boulder above him. To escape being crushed, he had to push the boulder uphill. The gods told him that if he rolled the stone to the other side they would release him. Every time he almost got to the top rolling the rock, he lost his grip on the rock and it rolled all the way down to the bottom and he had to start all over again. Like Sisyphus, the modern-day person with an Almost script Type-1 says: “I almost made it this time but, what to do I missed it.

Some people writing exams will say, “Questions for my exam were very easy, but I could not finish it satisfactorily. My job interview with the company was comfortable, but I could not conclude it well. Persons affected by this script have to keep doing the same thing without success. Their Drivers are ‘Try hard, Please people’

5. A) Almost Type-2: This process script was suggested by Taibi Kahler. In this, the person while going to achieve one goal, his attention is diverted to another higher goal, then another and another. This leads to several uncompleted tasks, though most of them are almost complete. Here, people cannot remain happy with what they achieve. Some people go on adding degree after degree to their name. People of this type, are not satisfied with getting promotions, because there are still some higher posts above the promoted post. Their achievements do not make them happy. They will say, “It's fine I did my Masters but, I will be happy when I complete my Ph.D.” “It’s ok to complete my studies but the real importance is getting a good job”.

There was a brilliant TV repairer whose customers used to come and wonder why he, though talented, used to get a lot of complaints. This was because he took up new repair work before completing the previous ones. Their ‘Drivers’ are “Try Hard, Be perfect”

6) Open-ended script: This script involves a person navigating life by avoiding clear decisions or commitments, often due to fear of making the wrong choice, leading to being stuck between conflicting pressures or dangers. This script applies to people who are now retired. Typical examples are parents whose children have grown up, settled, and married. They do not have much left to do. Berne says they do not know how to structure their time while waiting for the 'promised land'. In this type of script, people take up small goals & when that is over, they don’t know what to do. Their motto is, “Once I get to a certain point in time, I won’t know what to do with myself afterward”. They say, “I just don’t know how to kill my time especially after both my kids have gone abroad”. “Now that I have retired from my job I don’t know how to keep myself busy”.

Eric Berne compared ‘Open-ended’ process scripts with the Greek Mythology characters Philemon and Baucis. Greek God Jupiter was not happy about mankind as he believed that people had lost all goodness and values. So he wanted to destroy mankind. He said, “If some good people still remain, I am willing to give them a final chance. So, he along with his son Mercury, went disguised as travelers from house to house around to observe people. They asked for food but the people drove them away.

Then the two gods went to the last house. That was the cottage of Philemon and Baucis. They were an old couple having a long married life. This elderly couple welcomed God Jupiter and his son Mercury who were disguised as strangers.

Philemon and Baucis were pleased to have the visitors and insisted their guests rest before taking their food. Philemon and Baucis then served their starving guests with fresh fruits, olives, eggs, and wine. Soon the old couple noticed that when they poured the wine, the bottle never became empty. They began to suspect that their guests might be Gods.

Philemon and Baucis wanted to slaughter their only goose to honor their guests. But the goose ran to the divine guests. To save the life of the goose, Jupiter and Mercury revealed themselves and immediately expressed their pleasure in meeting an honorable human pair.

Jupiter asked them, “What divine favor you want from us?” The couple said that they wished to become temple priests and die together. Their wish was granted and when they died,

the gods extended their lives by turning them into trees planted beside each other with their branches entangled.

The motto of the Open-ended script is: “Once I get to a certain point in time, I don’t know what to do with myself afterward”. We can see around couples retired from service and having no engagements. The children in many cases may be abroad. These old couples may not know how to utilize their time as they don’t have any goals or any other motivation. Berne says, “They do not know how to structure their time while waiting for the promised land”. Their Drivers are ‘Be Perfect, and Please People’. Eric Berne's comparison of these scripts to Greek mythology characters emphasizes the dramatic and often tragic nature of these life patterns, offering a vivid metaphorical understanding of how these scripts play out in people's lives.

Breaking of process script patterns. 

A scripty life steals away from us the ability to live a life filled with awareness, and spontaneity and impacts the intimacy in our relationships. The drivers and process scripts influence how we discount our ability and potential in decision-making and problem-solving. The frame of reference itself is distorted. TA helps us to learn, experience, and realize this. The curses, injunctions, provocations, prescriptions, adult instructions, demonic impulses, and finally the spell breaker is the magic of self-discovery.

If we find uncomfortable with our process script, we can step out of it. TA makes all these changes possible. We can do this by identifying your main process patterns and practicing driver detection. Once we identify it, we have to take Adult control and behave in ways that will break the present pattern of script.

The author of the article Dr. Joshy K.T, is a Retired Kerala Regional Manager of the Oriental Insurance Company Ltd. He has more than three decades of experience in Marketing and Human Resource Management and has recently done a Ph.D. in Management Science, at Karunya Institute of Technology and Science (KITS), Coimbatore. He is an M.Phil. holder in Applied Economics from Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT). He has an MBA in Human Resource Management and a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and research in Management from Indira Gandhi Open University.  He is also a Fellow of the Insurance Institute of India, Mumbai. Recently he has done a Diploma in Transactional Analysis from ICTA Cochin.