Games People Play

Antithesis
. There are several devices available for the professional to handle an invitation to play 
this game, and his selection will depend on the state of the relationship between himself and the 
patient, particularly on the attitude of the patient's Child. 
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1. The classical psychoanalytic antithesis is the most thoroughgoing and the most difficult for the 
patient to tolerate. The invitation is completely ignored. The patient then tries harder and harder. 
Eventually he falls into a state of despair, manifested by anger or depression, which is the 
characteristic sign that a game has been frustrated. This situation may lead to a useful confrontation. 
2. A more gentle (but not prim) confrontation may be attempted on the first invitation. The therapist 
states that he is the patient's therapist and not his manager. 
3. An even more gentle procedure is to introduce the patient into a therapy group, and let the other 
patients handle it. 
4. With an acutely disturbed patient it may be necessary to play along during the initial phase. 
These patients should be treated by a psychiatrist, who being a medical man, can prescribe both 
medications and some of the hygienic measures which are still valuable, even in this day of 
tranquilizers, in the treatment of such people. If the physician prescribes a hygienic regimen, which 
may include baths, exercise, rest periods, and regular meals along with medication, the patient (1) 
carries out the regimen and feels better C2) carries out the regimen scrupulously and complains that 
it does not help (3) mentions casually that he forgot to carry out the instructions or that he has 
abandoned the regimen because it was not doing any good. In the second and third case it is then up 
to the psychiatrist to decide whether the patient is amenable to game analysis at that point, or 
whether some other form of treatment is indicated to prepare him for later psychotherapy. The 
relationship between the adequacy of die regimen and the patient's tendency to play games with it 
should be carefully evaluated by the psychiatrist before he decides how to proceed next. 
For the patient, on the other hand, the antithesis is, "Don't tell me what to do to help myself, I'll tell 
you what to do to help me." If the therapist is known to be a Schlemiel, the correct antithesis for the 
patient to use is, "Don't help me, help him." But serious players of "I'm Only Trying to Help You" 
are generally lacking in a sense of humor. Antithetical moves on the part of a patient are usually 
unfavorably received, and may result in the therapist's lifelong enmity. In everyday life such moves 
should not be initiated unless one is prepared to carry them through ruthlessly and take the 
consequences. For example, spuming a relative who "Can Get It For You Wholesale" may cause 
serious domestic complications. 
ANALYSIS