In Structure Analysis, what does analyzing transactions focus on?

• A. The content of statements.
• B. Who initiates contact.
• C. Nonverbal cues.
• D. The exchange between ego states and its pattern.

Answer: (D)

Structure Analysis focuses on how communication unfolds between ego states. It examines which ego states are involved in each message and the pattern of their exchange. In Transactional Analysis, people have Parent, Adult, and Child states, and a transaction is the move from one ego state to another. The emphasis is on whether the interaction is complementary (the expected ego-state match), crossed (a mismatch that causes miscommunication), or ulterior (a hidden agenda with mixed overt and covert messages). This structural view reveals how the interaction functions, not just the literal content of what’s said or who starts the contact.