I am surrounded by people

and their mental climate will affect me!

A negative attitude

in others will trigger a corresponding attitude in me.

But - if I understand

my own mental reactions I can learn to avoid a fight or flight reaction and meet my fellow humans according to their situation and needs.

If I don’t understand

what’s happening within me I will not be able to handle my fight or flight reaction. This will often constitute a form of threat to others which in the long term may result in a stressing situation for all involved.

Two unique individuals

are trying to communicate. On which level of their self-image will they meet the other?

Communicating

from ancient parts of our brain will not encourage consent between people.

The power of my social role

may trigger genetic survival reactions in the other person.

Using all parts

of my personality will create a feeling of safety in the other person who very often will find courage to meet me in the same way.

If I treat

another adult like a child I should not be surprised if she reacts like a child.

If I am treated like a child I often defend myself like a child.

The solution is to act like an adult and treat all other adults as if they actually were grown up people.

This is the theory of Transactional Analysis created by canadian-borne psychiatrist Eric Berne (1910-1970) as a way to explain human behavior.