Playing Those Mind Games Forever?

October 23, 2009 2:23 AM

Possible Jungian Reasons for *Getting into Someone's Head*?

Long time ago, read the book *Games People Play*. Have the rules changed? Why would a rational person attempt play mind games with someone ? What are the *rules* of the *game*? Are there payoff's for the player? If so, what are they and how do they manifest? Studies, books and current day examples on the subject appreciated.

posted by watercarrier to Religion & Philosophy (4 answers total)

I think what you're looking for is more 'Transactional Analysis' than Jung? 'Games People Play' belong in a series with 'I'm OK, You're OK' and stuff like 'Transactional Analysis Today'.

The theory in TA about games is that people play them because they have an ulterior motive - i.e. they are not about the subject at hand.

(from wikipedia:)
A game is a series of transactions that is complementary (reciprocal), ulterior, and proceeds towards a predictable outcome. Games are often characterized by a switch in roles of players towards the end. Games are usually played by Parent, Adult and Child ego states, and games usually have a fixed number of players; however, an individual's role can shift, and people can play multiple roles.

Berne identified dozens of games, noting that, regardless of when, where or by whom they were played, each game tended towards very similar structures in how many players or roles were involved, the rules of the game, and the game's goals.

Each game has a payoff for those playing it, such as the aim of earning sympathy, satisfaction, vindication, or some other emotion that usually reinforces the life script. The antithesis of a game, that is, the way to break it, lies in discovering how to deprive the actors of their payoff.

Would be interested to hear how Jung relates to TA, though.
posted by NekulturnY at 3:04 AM on October 23, 2009

Response by poster: Jung - in regard to the archetypes involved in the role playing - aside from the Parent, Adult and Child. From where do they branch off? What is their root? What is their motivation specifically when delving/playing and manipulating - each according to their archetype? In this type of *play* there is a distraction from the main arena which is life, living and loving - why derail from the main principle of being? That is what I'm trying to find out - and if it's vengeance - is there an element of sadism also involved? That's the question at large for the hive mind. Thanks.
posted by watercarrier at 6:06 AM on October 23, 2009

I can only speak from experience, not education.

People play games for two reasons: they get something out of it.

1- They enjoy yanking chains. They get some form of pleasure out of manipulating people, probably to the point of sadism sometimes.

2- They want something. They can't get what they want directly; whether because they don't have the fortitude to ask, or because they simply can't. So they manipulate the person into wanting to give them what they want. Extreme example: suicide by police- someone wants to end their life, and just can't do it themselves. So they create a situation where they make the cops *want* to shoot them, and the game is done.
posted by gjc at 7:12 AM on October 23, 2009 [2 favorites]

Oh, and the corrolary- sometimes people notice they are being played, and for the same reasons as above, choose to game them back rather than call them on it. "Oh, I see... you're working me. Alright, well, two can play at that game."
posted by gjc at 7:14 AM on October 23, 2009 [1 favorite]