In Eric Berne's Transactional Analysis, what is the Adult ego state?

• A. An individual who exhibits feelings/behaviors natural to children under seven years old
• B. An individual who exhibits feelings/behaviors of a mature adult
• C. A message type with covert psychological levels
• D. The dynamic between two people’s verbal and nonverbal communication

Answer: (B)

In Berne’s framework, the Adult ego state is the part of the personality that handles current reality in a calm, rational way. It processes information, weighs options, and responds based on here-and-now data rather than being driven by childhood emotions or by parental rules. So describing someone as exhibiting feelings and behaviors of a mature adult fits the Adult state perfectly. The other descriptions point to the Child state (emotional, spontaneous behavior) or to broader notions of communication patterns rather than the internal stance of the Adult.