PROCESS SCRIPT AND GREEK MYTHOLOGY

CHARACTERS
Introduction
Process Script refers to the patterned behaviors and responses which a person uses on a day to
day or second by second basis. Process scripts are life patterns. It deals with the how of the
script. It shows how a person implements his bad script in life i.e., how we live in that bad
script over time. Eric Berne, the founder of Transactional Analysis (TA), developed a theory
involving six "Process Scripts." These are psychological scripts that individuals follow
unconsciously throughout their lives. These are script patterns or scripty life style. These
patterns are called Until, After, Never, Always, Almost-1, Almost-2 and Open-Ended process
scripts. Eric Berne compared these 6 scripts with the characters in Greek Mythology. Each of
these process script is associated with drivers.

Berne points out that a person‘s life plan is mostly influenced by his/her injunctions, while
life style is mostly influenced by his/her drivers. . Each script represents a life pattern, often
shaped by early childhood experiences. Berne compared these life scripts to characters from
Greek mythology, which embody similar themes and outcomes.

Until Process script: People following an "Until" script believe they cannot be happy or
achieve success until a specific condition is met. This condition often seems unattainable or is
continuously postponed. They set certain targets to be completed before enjoying their life. “I
can’t have fun until I have finished my work.” “After I retire, I will be able to go for picnic.”
“Once the children are grown up, my problems will be over and then I can enjoy”.

Eric Berne compared ‘Until’ process script with the Greek Mythology character Hercules
who was to complete a big task to qualify to become a demi-god. His story goes like this.
God Hera was an Olympian goddess in the Greek mythology known as the queen of the gods.
She had an enmity with the forefathers of Hercules. Whenever a chance came, she tried to
take revenge on the family members of Hercules. When Hercules was born, Hera knew that
he was very strong and will be a threat to her. So she sent two snakes to kill him in his crib.
The infant Hercules was unusually strong and fearless and killed both the snakes.
Later also, Hera kept on trying her dirty tricks on Hercules. She made Hercules temporarily
insane and instigated him to murder his beloved wife and their two children. Realizing his
mistake Hercules approached God Apollo, the god of truth and pleaded for mercy.

God Apollo understood that it was not the fault of Hercules and was due to Hera’s vengeful
actions. But God Apollo gave a penance that Hercules should do some 12 tough tasks. Once
Hercules completes the task, he would be absolved of his guilt and he will be made Demi-
God.
But, after each task, he was given new task. Like this he completed many big tasks. But
instead of making him Demi-God, God Apollo only gave a promise that he would live
forever among the gods at Mount Olympus.

The first task given to him was to steal the golden apples of Zeus. These apples were in a
garden and guarded by a hundred-headed dragon. Hercules did not know how to overcome
these guards and steal the golden apples. He sought the help of Atlas who was holding Earth
for years. Hercules made a deal with Atlas. If Atlas fetch the golden apples, Hercules would
hold up the earth for some time. Atlas was waiting for a chance to escape from holding the
earth. So he agreed. Atlas fetched the apples and told Hercules that he would take the apples
to King. In fact Atlas wanted to escape from holding up the earth. Hercules understood
Atlas’s plan. He made a counter plan. Hercules asked Atlas to take the earth for a moment
while as he wanted to place some soft padding on his shoulders. Atlas agreed and took the
earth back on his shoulders. Suddenly Hercules grabbed the golden apples and left. He gave it
to the King. As usual king gave him a new task. He spent his life to complete his tasks and
forgot joys and finer side of life.

This process script deprives affected persons by making them to postpone joy and happiness
to future times. Whenever they want to be happy, they will be reminded of the unfinished
task. My brother Sunil is a devoted manager. He seldom takes leave. He will not go home
until he completes all the day's work. Hence he finds no time to enjoy with his family. These
type of people think in the following way: “I will submit the presentation and then have my
dinner”. For this type of people, enjoyment of life remains a mirage. Their Driver is ‘Be
Perfect’

2) After Process script: People with an "After" script believe that something bad will
happen after a success or happiness is achieved. This leads to a constant fear of impending
doom. They are almost the opposite of ‘Until’. They believe that if they enjoy today, they
may have to weep tomorrow. They are always anxious about the future, ever expecting some
calamity to follow. When they start their vehicle their first thought is about the probability of
an accident. When children are late from school or the spouse is late from office, their mind
is burdened with the possibility of calamity. They say, “You can have your fun for a while
and not long, otherwise your troubles will begin.
Eric Berne compared ‘Until’ process scripts with the Greek Mythology character Damocles.
According to Greek Mythology, Damocles was always flattering his king saying that king is
fortunate having power and authority. As a response, king offered to switch roles with
Damocles for one day so that Damocles could taste the King’s fortune. Damocles accepted
the king's proposal. Damocles sat on the king's throne with the service of beautiful attendants.
But, the king hanged a sword above the throne with a single hair of a horse's tail. This was to
remind Damocles the fact that along with king’s fortune there is a responsibility. Damocles
was afraid and begged the king for permission to leave the throne. He felt that happiness is
not long lasting as there is potential problems in waiting.

People with this process script are always anxious about the future, expecting that some
calamity will follow. They say, “Don’t laugh too much today or else you will have to cry
tomorrow”. “Don’t be too happy with your exam papers today or else tomorrow’s exam may
be tough”. Their ‘Driver’ is ‘Please Others’

3) Never process script: Individuals with a "Never" script are caught in a cycle of endless
striving without ever achieving their goals. They may work hard but feel as though they are
constantly being pushed back to the starting point. The lives of people affected by this script
process is that of cursed. They always run after something they do not have. They cannot
enjoy life though they have adequate facilities at their disposal. They never reach their goal.
They never finish their tasks. Since they are not satisfied with the present life, they never to
experience intimacy or enjoy sex, and never to succeed professionally. They say: “I don’t get
whatever I want most”. “Life is tough for me, I’m constantly struggling, as always. “Nothing
is easily available to me, I’ve to struggle for everything”. “Man proposes, God disposes”.

Eric Berne compared ‘Never’ process scripts with the Greek Mythology character Tantalus
who is inside a pool of water with all pleasant things to eat drink. But these things lying on
the edge of pool are beyond his reach. He remained tantalized lifelong.
The story goes like this. Tantalus murdered his son and served the flesh to the gods as stew
during a feast as offering. The gods immediately realized the grave sin Tantalus had
made. He was punished for trying to trick the gods into eating his son’s flesh. He was made
to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree with low branches, with the fruit just outside
his reach and the water always receding before he could take a drink.

People with the 'NEVER’ script are always running after something they do not get just like
Tantalus. Since they are not satisfied with the present life, they never to experience intimacy
or enjoy things, and never succeed professionally. Their Driver is ‘Be Strong’

4) ‘Always’ Process script: The "Always" script involves repetitive behaviour where
individuals feel compelled to continue the same actions or patterns without change, often
leading to exhaustion or frustration. They think living is always working and suffering. They
will go from one unsatisfactory relationship, job or locality to another. People who belong to
the Always script say” My fate is to suffer always. Why do I always get such a negative
deal?” “Why does this always happen to me?” “Why does this always follow to me?” Why
do I always get such horrible bosses to report to?”

Eric Berne compared ‘Never’ process scripts with the Greek Mythology character Arachne in
Greek mythology who angered goddess Minerva and who turned Arachne into a spider. The
story goes like this. Arachne was a famous weaver. Greek Gods liked her. But as years
passed, she became arrogant and challenged God Minerva, the god of war and art, to a
weaving contest. Minerva tried to warn Arachne about her behavior, but Arachne neglected
it. God Minerva accepted the challenge & defeated Arachne in the competition. Arachne was
shocked and tried to hang herself in despair. Minerva took pity on her and let Arachne live,
but for the rest of time she should remain suspended. Arachne’s body was shrunk and she
became a spider making web always. She was cursed to spend the rest of her life weaving
web. She always tried & tried but failed. Persons of this script process keep on doing the
same thing without success.

Some employees go on trying to complete their jobs. In fact the jobs may be very simple. But
they get stuck to the work and not able complete it. When the boss ask about the progress of
the work, they will say, “I couldn’t complete it sir”. These type of people will always be
working and suffering. They will go from one unsatisfactory relationship, job or locality to
another. Their ‘Driver’ is ‘Try Hard’

5) Almost Type-1: People with an "Almost" type-1 script come very close to achieving their
goals but never quite succeed, often sabotaging themselves at the last moment. Such people
make “all” efforts to become successful but in the end, something happens and they lose their
due share. Almost script says, I almost made it this time. Berne called this pattern “over and
over”. Persons affected by this script almost reaches the last stage of the work but, fails in the
last stage. Hence they have to keep doing the same thing without success. They will say,
“This time I almost reached the top of the promotion list, but missed”. “My son had prepared
very well for exams, but he fell sick.

Eric Berne compared ‘Almost Type-1’ process scripts with the Greek Mythology character
Sisyphus who was condemned by Greek Gods to spend eternity pushing a huge rock up a hill.
Sisyphus was punished for playing tricks with the Gods. He was placed on a hillside with a
heavy boulder above him. To escape being crushed, he had to push the boulder uphill. The
gods told him that if he rolled the stone to the other side they would release him. Every time
he almost got to the top rolling the rock, he lost his grip on the rock and it rolled all the way
down to the bottom and he had to start all over again. Like Sisyphus, the modern day person
with an Almost script Type1 says: “I almost made it this time but, what to do I missed it.”
Some people writing exams will say, “Questions for my exam were very easy, but I could not
finish it satisfactorily. My job interview with the company was comfortable, but I could not
conclude it well. Persons affected by this script have to keep doing the same thing without
success. Their Drivers are ‘Try hard, Please people’

5. A) Almost Type-2: This process script was suggested by Taibi Kahler. People with this
script, while going to achieve one goal, his attention is diverted to another higher goal, then
another and another. This leads to several uncompleted tasks, though most of them are almost
complete. Here, people cannot remain happy with what they achieve. There are people who
go on adding degree after degree to their name. People of this type, are not satisfied on
getting promotions, because there are still some higher post above the promoted post. Their
achievements do not make them happy. They will say, “Its fine I did my Masters but, I will
be happy when I complete my Ph.D.” “It’s ok to complete my studies but the real importance
is getting a good job”. There was a brilliant TV repair whose customers used to come and
wonder why he, though talented, used to get lot of complaint. This was because he takes up
new repair work before completing the previous ones. Their ‘Drivers’ are “Try Hard, Be
perfect”

6) Open ended script: This script involves a person navigating life by avoiding clear
decisions or commitments, often due to fear of making the wrong choice, leading to being
stuck between conflicting pressures or dangers. This script applies to people who are now
retired. Typical examples are parents whose children have grown up, settled and married.
They do not have much left to do. Berne says they do not know how to structure their time
while waiting for the 'promised land'. In this type of script, people take up small goals &
when that is over, they don’t know what to do. Their motto is, “once I get to a certain point in
time, I won’t know what to do with myself afterwards”. They say, “I just don’t know how to
kill my time especially after both my kids have gone abroad”. “Now that I have retired from
my job I don’t know how to keep myself busy”.

Eric Berne compared ‘Open Ended’ process scripts with the Greek Mythology characters
Philemon and Baucis. Greek God Jupiter was not happy about mankind as he believed that
people have lost all goodness and values. So he wanted to destroy the mankind. He said, “If
some good people still remain, I am willing to give them a final chance. So, he along with his
son Mercury, went disguised as travellers from house to house around to observe people.
They asked for food but the people drove them away.

Then the two gods went to the last house. That was the cottage of Philemon and Baucis. They
were an old couple having a long married life. This elderly couple welcomed God Jupiter and
his son Mercury who were disguised as strangers.

Philemon and Baucis were pleased to have the visitors and insisted their guests to rest before
taking their food. Philemon and Baucis then served their starving guests with fresh fruits,
olives, eggs, and wine. Soon the old couple noticed that when they poured the wine, the bottle
was never became empty. They began to suspect that their guests might be Gods.
Philemon and Baucis wanted to slaughter their only goose to honour their guests. But the
goose ran to the divine guests. To save the life of the goose, Jupiter and Mercury revealed
themselves and immediately expressed their pleasure in meeting an honourable human pair.
Jupiter asked them, “What divine favour you want from us?” The couple said that they
wished to become temple priests and die together. Their wish was granted and when they
died,
the gods extended their lives by turning them into trees planted besides each other with their
branches entangled.

The motto of the Open ended script is: “Once I get to a certain point in time, I don’t know
what to do with myself afterwards”. We can see around couples retired from service and
having no engagements. The children in many cases may be abroad. These old couples may
not know how to utilize their time as they don’t have any goal or any other motivation. Berne
says, “they do not know how to structure their time while waiting for the promised land”.
Their Drivers are ‘Be Perfect, and Please People’. Eric Berne's comparison of these scripts to
Greek mythology characters emphasizes the dramatic and often tragic nature of these life
patterns, offering a vivid metaphorical understanding of how these scripts play out in people's
lives.

Breaking of process script patterns. A scripty life steals away from us the ability to live life
filled with awareness, spontaneity and impacts the intimacy in our relationships. The drivers
and process scripts influence how we discount our ability and potential in decision making
and problem solving. The frame of reference itself is distorted. TA helps us to learn,
experience and realize this. The curses, injunctions, provocations, prescriptions, adult
instructions, demonic impulses and finally the spell breaker is the magic of self-discovery.

If we find uncomfortable with our process script, we can step out of it. TA makes all these
changes possible. We can do this by identifying your main process patterns and practicing
driver detection. Once we identify it, we have to take Adult control and behave in ways that
will break the present pattern of script.

Reference:

[1] Berne, E. (1972/2018). What do you say after you say hello? The psychology of
human destiny. p. 235, New York, NY: Grove Press.
[2] Stewart, I., & Joines, V. (1987/2008). TA today: A new introduction to
transactional analysis. P.153. Nottingham: Life space Publishing.
[3] Berens, EM, (2009). Myths and Legends of ancient Greece and Rome.
https://www.ibiblio.org/ml/libri/b/BerensEM_MythsLegends_p.pdf

Author of the article Dr. Joshy K.T, is a Retired Kerala Regional Manager of the Oriental
Insurance Company Ltd. He is having more than three decades of experience in Marketing
and Human Resource Management and has recently done a Ph.D. in Management Science, at
Karunya Institute of Technology and Science (KITS), Coimbatore. He is an M.Phil. holder in
Applied Economics from Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT). He has an
MBA in Human Resource Management and a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and
Research in Management from Indira Gandhi Open University. He is also a Fellow of the
Insurance Institute of India, Mumbai. Recently he has done Diploma in Transactional
Analysis from ICTA Cochin.