Games, Pastimes, Procedures

Games, Pastimes and Procedures

In our interactions with other people, we often fall into ritualistic patterns of social behavior. Beyond social ritual, Berne (1964) broke these down into three categories: Games, Pastimes and Procedures.

Games

Games are played by two or more people. The games are often complex and even harmful to the players, but they often continue to play because they gain obscure and often psychological benefits.

Games are different to Pastimes and Procedures in their complexity and durability. They may last days or even many years.

Procedures

Procedures provide rules for specific situations, such as greetings, where people play out the standard procedure on each occasion, from brief exchanges such as 'Hiya-Cool' to longer patterns such as kissing and ritual asking about health and families.

Procedures are generally harmless and help us through minor interactions, navigating simple social rules and reassuring one another that all is well.

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Games, Pastimes and Procedures

Social rituals

Games

Pastimes

Procedures

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Quick links

Disciplines

Techniques

Principles

Explanations

Theories

And