CTA Strokes, Rackets & Stamp Collecting 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In transactional analysis, what is a 'stroke'?
- A physical touch only
- A unit of recognition that acknowledges another person's existence (Correct answer)
- A type of transaction
- A therapeutic intervention
Correct answer: A unit of recognition that acknowledges another person's existence
A stroke in TA is a unit of recognition — any act that acknowledges another person's existence, including physical touch, words, gestures, or eye contact.
Question 2: What is the difference between 'conditional' and 'unconditional' strokes?
- Conditional strokes are verbal; unconditional are nonverbal
- Conditional strokes are for what a person does; unconditional are for who a person is (Correct answer)
- Conditional strokes are positive; unconditional are negative
- There is no meaningful difference
Correct answer: Conditional strokes are for what a person does; unconditional are for who a person is
Conditional strokes are given for behavior ('You did a great job'), while unconditional strokes are given for being ('I love you just as you are').
Question 3: What is the 'stroke economy' in TA, as described by Claude Steiner?
- A financial metaphor for therapy fees
- The artificial restriction of strokes taught in childhood to create dependency and control (Correct answer)
- A system for earning positive strokes
- The total number of strokes in a relationship
Correct answer: The artificial restriction of strokes taught in childhood to create dependency and control
The stroke economy, described by Steiner, refers to parental rules that restrict stroke-giving and receiving, creating artificial scarcity of strokes to maintain control.
Question 4: What are 'plastic strokes' in TA?
- Physically nurturing touch
- Insincere, hollow strokes that appear positive but lack genuine warmth (Correct answer)
- Strokes given to children
- A type of unconditional stroke
Correct answer: Insincere, hollow strokes that appear positive but lack genuine warmth
Plastic strokes are insincere, hollow positive strokes that appear genuine but lack real warmth or meaning, often felt as patronizing or manipulative.
Question 5: What is 'stroke hunger' in TA?
- A client's reluctance to give strokes
- The fundamental human need for recognition and stimulation (Correct answer)
- Being dissatisfied with therapy
- Overgiving strokes in sessions
Correct answer: The fundamental human need for recognition and stimulation
Stroke hunger is the fundamental human need and drive for recognition and stimulation, which motivates much of human behavior and interaction.
Question 6: According to TA, what happens when positive strokes are consistently unavailable?
- People stop needing strokes
- People will seek negative strokes to fulfill their stroke hunger (Correct answer)
- People become healthier
- People only give strokes to others
Correct answer: People will seek negative strokes to fulfill their stroke hunger
When positive strokes are unavailable, people will seek negative strokes because negative recognition is preferable to being ignored entirely.
CTA Strokes, Rackets & Stamp Collecting 1
In transactional analysis, what is a 'stroke'?