The Role of Psychological Games in the Tragedy of Sohrab (Sohrab in the Framework of Eric Berne’s Transactional Analysis)

Transactional Analysis theory, with its focus on the three ego states—Parent, Adult, and Child—provides a systematic framework for analyzing personality and social interactions. This study aims to examine the behavior of Sohrab, the tragic character of Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh, based on this theory, in order to identify the psychological roots of his actions in various situations, as well as the contaminations resulting from imbalance among his ego states. Using this theoretical approach, the research investigates how Sohrab acts in different contexts, how he reveals himself through his behaviors, and what emotional and psychological tensions underlie those behaviors. The research method is descriptive–analytical, and the main questions are: According to Transactional Analysis theory, which of the three ego-state dimensions are reflected in Sohrab’s behaviors? And what damages or contaminations can be observed in his actions? Findings indicate that Sohrab’s behavior predominantly manifests in the Child and Parent states. His Child state appears in his simplicity, hastiness, irrational decisions, and susceptibility to deception. On the other hand, the Parent state is reflected in his humiliating manner, excessive self-centeredness, and inclination toward violence. The absence of an effectively functioning Adult state—responsible for logical mediation—intensifies his internal conflicts and ultimately contributes to the tragedy of his death.Damages such as the Child-state contamination with anger and the Parent-state contamination with tendencies to belittle others disrupt his psychological balance and drive his actions toward destruction. This study emphasizes the importance of balance among ego states for an individual’s adaptation to the environment and demonstrates how the lack of such balance in Sohrab’s personality mirrors the psychological conflicts of human nature depicted in Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh.