Book
Games Alcoholics Play: The Analysis of Life Scripts
Steiner's groundbreaking application of Transactional Analysis and game theory to understanding alcoholism, revealing the interpersonal scripts that sustain addictive behaviour.
Written for: Therapists, counsellors, and anyone seeking to understand the psychological dynamics of alcoholism
Games Alcoholics Play brought Transactional Analysis into direct conversation with addiction treatment, offering a framework that was both intellectually rigorous and practically useful. Steiner argued that alcoholism could be understood not merely as a disease but as a pattern of interpersonal games, each with predictable roles, moves, and payoffs.
By analysing the scripts that people follow, often without awareness, Steiner opened up new possibilities for therapeutic intervention. The book identifies specific games played by those struggling with alcohol and by those around them, showing how these patterns reinforce one another.
First published in 1971, the book remains in print and continues to influence practitioners working at the intersection of TA and addiction. Its clarity and directness make it accessible to both professionals and lay readers who want to understand the relational dynamics behind compulsive drinking.
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Beyond Games and Scripts
1976
An edited collection of selections from the work of Eric Berne, curated by Steiner to present Berne's most essential contributions to Transactional Analysis.
Healing Alcoholism
1979
Steiner's practical guide applying Transactional Analysis to alcoholism treatment, offering concrete strategies for breaking free from addictive scripts.
Scripts People Live: Transactional Analysis of Life Scripts
1974
A comprehensive exploration of life script theory, examining how early decisions shape the unconscious plans people follow throughout their lives and how those scripts can be rewritten.