ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author presents the key concepts in transactional analysis theory: that of ego states. He traces the development of the theory of escape hatches and of related recommendations for clinical practice. In the development of transactional analysis theory and practice, three possible tragic endings to the script have become the focus of particular attention. These are suicide, homicide, and psychosis. In the colloquial language of transactional analysis, these three tragic outcomes are collectively referred to as escape hatches. Patients with escape hatches open are committed to maintaining a reservoir of bad feelings in order to keep the tragic script option available, thus making hard contracts and change-oriented contracts unworkable. To the client in a Child ego state, the escape hatches have represented ultimate solutions held in reserve for use if things ever get bad enough. The escape hatches makes its first appearance in a monograph by William Holloway.
