Kozlov V.V., Gordeev M.N., Vlasov N.A. Transactional Interaction As a Mechanism of Suggestibility in Major Groups

Abstract: The authors of this article carry out the analysis of transactional interactions between people as a mechanism of suggestibility in major groups. They give a short review of suggestibility as a complex phenomenon as well as a brief overview of major theories of suggestibility. The authors provide a list of the main concepts developed in the transactional analysis of Eric Berne and examine the following: theories of personality, social interaction and conception of psychological “hungers”. The emphasis is made on some proximity between theories of classical psychoanalysis and transactional analysis when it comes to the nature of suggestibility. The authors also provide historical examples that illustrate the described approach to understanding the nature of human relationships. The main research method used in the article is a systems analysis of Russian and foreign literature on suggestibility. For the first time in the academic literature suggestibility is analyzed from both medical and socio-psychological points of view which allows to clearly distinguish it from the concept of hypnoability. This is also the first research to analyze suggestibility in major groups in terms of the transactional analysis. Conclusions: suggestibility is a complex system phenomenon that cannot be interpreted one-dimensionally; and suggestibility in major groups is a consequence of the mass entering of people in the Child's ego-state.

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