What is a basic definition of a 'transaction' in TA?

• A. A formal agreement between client and therapist.
• B. The exchange between ego states during communication.
• C. The client's financial interactions.
• D. An instructional directive.

Answer: (B)

In Transactional Analysis, a transaction is the basic unit of social communication—the exchange between ego states during interaction. Each person has three ego states—Parent, Adult, and Child—and a transaction happens when one person sends a message from one ego state and the other person responds from a particular ego state. For example, a message coming from the Adult of one person and getting a response from the Adult of the other is a straightforward, complementary transaction, while a message from one person’s Adult that gets a Child reply can create a crossed or less predictable exchange. This concept is distinct from a formal agreement, a financial transaction, or an instructional directive, which are not about the unit of communication itself.