What type of analysis involves viewing individuals as having three ego states?

Transactional Analysis is the correct answer because it is a psychological theory and method of therapy that was developed by Eric Berne in the late 1950s. At its core, it posits that individuals have three ego states—Parent, Adult, and Child—that shape how they think, feel, and interact with others.

In the Parent ego state, individuals display attitudes and behaviors learned from authority figures, often resembling how they were parented themselves. The Adult ego state allows individuals to process information and make decisions based on current realities and objective thinking, while the Child ego state encompasses the feelings and behaviors from one’s childhood experience, including spontaneity and creativity but also vulnerability and dependency.

By analyzing communication and relationships through these ego states, therapists can help individuals better understand their personal interactions and promote healthier communication patterns. This focus on the distinct aspects of personality in terms of ego states is central to what makes Transactional Analysis unique compared to other types of psychological analysis, which may not employ this specific framework for understanding interpersonal dynamics.