Adult Ego State

The adult ego state — in transactional analysis, developed by psychiatrist Eric Berne — is the part of the personality oriented to the present moment. It gathers information, evaluates reality, and makes decisions based on what is happening now rather than on past conditioning or emotional reflex. The adult ego state allows for choice, flexibility, and thoughtful response, integrating emotion and reason without being dominated by either. Also see Child Ego State and Wounded Child