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Games Alcoholics Play: The Analysis of Life Scripts
The most lucid account of the patterns of problem drinkers ever set down in a book!
Drawing on soundly tested theories of transactional behavior, Dr. Steiner describes the three distinct types of alcoholics -- Drunk and Proud, Lush and Wino -- and their games, scripts and rackets: Debtor... Kick... Cops and robbers... Plastic Woman... Captain Marvel...Ain't it awful... Schlemiel... Look how hard I've tried... and others.
His approach is the single most useful tool for dealing with alcoholism since A.A. and the Twelve Steps, and offers the first real help -- and hope -- for problem drinkers and their families.
Drawing on soundly tested theories of transactional behavior, Dr. Steiner describes the three distinct types of alcoholics -- Drunk and Proud, Lush and Wino -- and their games, scripts and rackets: Debtor... Kick... Cops and robbers... Plastic Woman... Captain Marvel...Ain't it awful... Schlemiel... Look how hard I've tried... and others.
His approach is the single most useful tool for dealing with alcoholism since A.A. and the Twelve Steps, and offers the first real help -- and hope -- for problem drinkers and their families.
- GenresPsychologyPsychiatry
202 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1971
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 18, 2013
Not for the everyday person looking for answers.
I was curious to read and review this book--as the title sounded very interersting. After giving it about an hour, I realized that I was reading paragraphs over and over to get the meaning. It reads more like a textbook rather than a helpful, informational tool for someone looking for answers. I'm not sure who this book is directed toward.
I also wonder why the name of the doctor who wrote the "forward" is about 5 times larger than that of the author????
There are much more "user friendly" resources out there if you poke around:
Judy Herzanek, Co-Author:
Why Don't They Just Quit? What families and friends need to know about addiction and recovery
90-Minute DVD: Why Don't They Just QUIT? DVD Roundtable Discussion: What families and friends need to know about addiction and recovery.
I was curious to read and review this book--as the title sounded very interersting. After giving it about an hour, I realized that I was reading paragraphs over and over to get the meaning. It reads more like a textbook rather than a helpful, informational tool for someone looking for answers. I'm not sure who this book is directed toward.
I also wonder why the name of the doctor who wrote the "forward" is about 5 times larger than that of the author????
There are much more "user friendly" resources out there if you poke around:
Judy Herzanek, Co-Author:
Why Don't They Just Quit? What families and friends need to know about addiction and recovery
90-Minute DVD: Why Don't They Just QUIT? DVD Roundtable Discussion: What families and friends need to know about addiction and recovery.
May 10, 2011
I found this really useful when investigating my own issues around alcohol and alcoholics.
It came in very useful when being with my alcoholic mum, and for coping with my older sister during the period that she was drinking heavily.
Useful to read in conjunction with Games People Play, Eric Berne.
It came in very useful when being with my alcoholic mum, and for coping with my older sister during the period that she was drinking heavily.
Useful to read in conjunction with Games People Play, Eric Berne.
December 16, 2017
Excellent. Plain English with supporting examples. When seems like too much to remember just read on and it becomes clear. The concepts are complicated. It takes time to digest them. Be patient and plug on. It is worth the effort.
-Joan Covici, Dallas,TX
-Joan Covici, Dallas,TX
January 11, 2016
A good when if your stuck with an addict.
August 26, 2024
I read this in conjunction with B.I.F.F after my therapist had mentioned it.
I have an alcoholic ex husband and many other family members. I spent many years trying to be supportive of them in ‘their disease’ seeing how I’d been ‘affected’.
This book broke down every situation I had encountered with these folks in my life and wouldn’t you know..I could relate!!
What it did for me that Al-Anon wouldn’t, was validate what I was experiencing and that it indeed is a game to them and why I would get so frustrated when I called them on it and got utter denial or accusations of how I continue to live in the past and am not working my program.
Having that validation I started understanding on a different level, what I was dealing with: adult children with the rights of adults and who also usually happened to have a paycheck of sorts.
It helped me to disengage and walk away when I needed to the most, and to understand that forgiveness is understanding the why, but not paying the price of the inaction on their part.
I can understand a situation, I do not have to give into or play the game out of the guilt and shame that is being asked as tender in those relationships. I want more and that’s ok.
Seeing the different games also helped enlighten me to my own reactions and take responsibility for those to be able to move on.
I found myself chuckling a time or five in relating to the ridiculous lengths that some people go in these situations to get away with behavior that keeps themselves trapped. We all see it, except them!!
I have an alcoholic ex husband and many other family members. I spent many years trying to be supportive of them in ‘their disease’ seeing how I’d been ‘affected’.
This book broke down every situation I had encountered with these folks in my life and wouldn’t you know..I could relate!!
What it did for me that Al-Anon wouldn’t, was validate what I was experiencing and that it indeed is a game to them and why I would get so frustrated when I called them on it and got utter denial or accusations of how I continue to live in the past and am not working my program.
Having that validation I started understanding on a different level, what I was dealing with: adult children with the rights of adults and who also usually happened to have a paycheck of sorts.
It helped me to disengage and walk away when I needed to the most, and to understand that forgiveness is understanding the why, but not paying the price of the inaction on their part.
I can understand a situation, I do not have to give into or play the game out of the guilt and shame that is being asked as tender in those relationships. I want more and that’s ok.
Seeing the different games also helped enlighten me to my own reactions and take responsibility for those to be able to move on.
I found myself chuckling a time or five in relating to the ridiculous lengths that some people go in these situations to get away with behavior that keeps themselves trapped. We all see it, except them!!
July 16, 2020
A transactional analysis look at the interplay in Alcoholic Families and the traps and sabatoging strategies used by the primary Alcoholic.
Want to read
March 15, 20231035- 21
April 11, 2017
Very outdated as far as cultural and current thinking is concerned. I was interested to read this because the theory behind it still sounded decent, and might still have merit, but I don't think it is useful for the layperson or someone who is looking more for ways to spot manipulation tactics or other common points of conflict. Also, disclaimer, I don't subscribe to Freud's theories much. You might like it better if you do.
June 12, 2014
A bit dated with a lot of TA jargon to be mastered but interesting. Still, it did not and wont replace the disease theory.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews