Racket and Authentic Feelings from Transactional Analysis Therapy

The Basic Feelings

When faced with a threat, people feel FEAR. (When the intensity is low or if the threat is not immediate, people feel worry)
When faced with Injustice/unfairness, they feel ANGER (When the intensity is low or if the threat is not immediate, people feel upset)
Positive events (or thoughts / memories / anticipation of success / etc.) make people feel HAPPINESS, which offers a physical sensation of well-being, calm and satisfaction.
When people suffer a loss/ missing, they feel SADNESS
When someone regrets doing something against the conscience/one’s values and principles and is angry on himself/herself, they undergo GUILT
When faced with loss of dignity, people feel SHAME

However people do not feel the above-mentioned feelings in the given situations. When we play out our script in grown-up life, we continue to cover our authentic feelings with the feelings that were permitted to us as children, such substitute feelings are known as racket feelings. Expression of Authentic Feeling is appropriate as a means of here & now problem solving. When we express authentic feelings, we do something that helps finish the situation for us where as when we express racket feelings, we leave the situation unfinished.

Racket Feeling		Authentic Feeling
1.	Surface Level. Very much aware to the person who is going through	Deeper Level. Not very much aware to the person who is going through
2.	Inappropriate to perception of the situation	Appropriate to perception of the situation (e.g.: injustice – Anger/Loss-Sadness)
3.	Will not reduce in its intensity if acknowledged/processed/expressed – Unfinished business takes place. Displacement may happen.	Will reduce in its intensity if acknowledged/processed/expressed – Leads to relieved feeling.
4.	Will not help to problem solve	Will help to problem solve
5.	Usually socially (based on gender, age, culture and family values) approved	Usually not socially approved