First-order analysis in Transactional Analysis refers to examining what?

• A. The content of the client's stories.
• B. The therapist's interpretations.
• C. The ego states expressed by the client.
• D. The client's life goals.

Answer: (C)

First-order analysis in Transactional Analysis focuses on the actual ego states the client is using in the moment and how those states drive the interaction. It looks at the structure of the communication—which ego state is expressing itself (Parent, Adult, or Child) and how the transactions unfold between people—without judging motivation or underlying scripts. The content of the client’s stories or their life goals are about meaning, reasons, or outcomes beyond the immediate state pattern, and therapist interpretations go beyond what is observable in the transaction. By concentrating on which ego states are being expressed, you can map how the person relates in real time and identify complementary or crossed transactions.