As demonstrated in a previous post, we can use ChatGPT’s psychoanalytical capabilities to assess the leadership abilities and likely election success of a specific individual. Let’s see if we can also use ChatGPT to psychoanalyse group political power structures.
Triadic Power Structures
A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
Group power structures are often comprised of threesomes. From a Transactional Analysis perspective, it is almost invariably possible to identify the following personality types in the power triad:
- Constant Parent*: This role is characterized by authoritative, controlling, and sometimes nurturing behaviors. The Parent sets the direction, enforces policies, and provides a sense of stability.
- Constant Adult*: The Adult in the triadic power structure is rational, pragmatic, and focused on problem-solving. This figure balances the dynamics by bringing logical and strategic thinking into the decision-making process.
- Constant Child*: The Child is characterized by enthusiasm, loyalty, and sometimes impulsive behavior. This role brings energy and creativity into the power triad, but can also exhibit dependency on the Parent.
*For an explanation of these terms, see this post.
Since each individual specialises in one ego state, they are able to exert far more force in the area of specialisation of that ego state, than one person would be able to, by themselves.
Power Transition
Let’s say that we have a group power structure comprised of the above mentioned personality types: Constant Parent, Constant Adult and Constant Child. And let’s say that one of the members of the group power structure is removed (e.g. this person is now deceased). In this case, in order to maintain the stability and correct psychodynamic functioning of the triadic power structure, the replacement must occupy the same constant ego state as the person whom they are replacing.
For example, if the Constant Parent is removed from the triadic power structure, they must be replaced with another person who also occupies a Constant Parent ego state, in order to maintain the balance of Constant Parent, Constant Adult and Constant Child.
Practically speaking, this means that:
- Constant Parent: If the authoritarian in the power structure is removed, they must be replaced by another authoritarian.
- Constant Adult: If the logical thinker in the power structure is removed, they must be replaced by another logical thinker.
- Constant Child: If the dynamic, effusive member of the power structure is removed, they must be replaced by another dynamic, effusive individual.
In this way, the need of the power triad to have one representative for each ego state, forces the hand of the power transition process.
Application to Soviet Politics
Let’s use ChatGPT to apply the above theory to an analysis of Soviet-era power politics.
Note: The following output was generated by ChatGPT, using a GPT called Transactional Analyst, that specialises in Transactional Analysis.
Initial Power Triad
First, let’s identify an initial power triad:
| YouLet’s hypothesize that the standard triadic power structure contains one person in the constant Adult, one in the constant Parent and one in the constant Child, show how this power structure applied to Stalin and his associates.
Transactional Analyst Let’s analyze Joseph Stalin’s preferred ego state and identify two complementary figures in his immediate realm of influence. Joseph Stalin:
Complementary Figures:
This dynamic illustrates how Stalin’s authoritative Parent ego state was complemented by Molotov’s rational Adult and Khrushchev’s energetic Child ego states, creating a power structure where each played a distinct role in the governance and administration of the Soviet Union. |
Power Transition
Now let’s ask ChatGPT to analyse how this power structure psychodynamic affected the power transition to the next generation of Soviet leadership.
| YouShow how, in the above example, a power figure fell out of the triadic power structure (e.g. they died) and then they were replaced with one of the people mentioned above, who occupied the same ego state slot in the triadic power structure.
Transactional Analyst Let’s use the example of Joseph Stalin and how the power dynamics shifted after his death. Joseph Stalin:
Complementary Figures:
Power Shift After Stalin’s Death: After Stalin’s death in 1953, the power structure within the Soviet Union underwent significant changes. Here’s how the triadic power structure evolved: Original Triadic Structure
After Stalin’s Death:
New Triadic Structure
This transition illustrates how the triadic power structure adapted after Stalin’s death, with Khrushchev moving into the Parent role, Mikoyan emerging as the Adult, and Brezhnev occupying the Child ego state, thus maintaining a similar dynamic within the Soviet leadership. |
Subsequent Generational Power Transition
Now let’s ask ChatGPT to identify an equivalent power transition psychodynamic to the subsequent generation of Soviet leadership.
| YouShow how the same dynamic applied in the next generation of Soviet leadership.
Transactional Analyst Let’s explore the next generation of Soviet leadership, focusing on the transition from Nikita Khrushchev to Leonid Brezhnev and how the triadic power structure evolved. Triadic Power Structure Under Khrushchev:
Power Shift After Khrushchev’s Removal: In 1964, Nikita Khrushchev was removed from power in a coup led by his party colleagues. Leonid Brezhnev emerged as the new leader. Here’s how the triadic power structure changed: Original Triadic Structure:
After Khrushchev’s Removal:
New Triadic Structure Under Brezhnev:
This transition illustrates how the triadic power structure adapted following Khrushchev’s removal, with Brezhnev moving into the Parent role, Kosygin emerging as the Adult, and Ustinov occupying the Child ego state, maintaining a similar dynamic within the Soviet leadership. |
Creating a Table
Finally, let’s ask ChatGPT to create a table of its findings.
You
Draw a table illustrating this ego-state parallelism over the various generations of Soviet leadership.
Transactional Analyst
Soviet Leadership Ego States
| Leadership Period | Parent | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stalin Era | Joseph Stalin | Vyacheslav Molotov | Nikita Khrushchev |
| Post-Stalin Transition | Nikita Khrushchev | Anastas Mikoyan | Nikita Khrushchev |
| Khrushchev Era | Nikita Khrushchev | Anastas Mikoyan | Leonid Brezhnev |
| Post-Khrushchev Transition | Leonid Brezhnev | Alexei Kosygin | Leonid Brezhnev |
| Brezhnev Era | Leonid Brezhnev | Alexei Kosygin | Dmitry Ustinov |
I have created a table illustrating the ego-state parallelism over the various generations of Soviet leadership. This table shows how different leaders and their complementary figures fit into the Parent, Adult, and Child ego states during key transitions in Soviet history.
Ego State Transition
A fascinating pattern emerges from ChatGPT’s psychoanalysis as follows:
- In the Stalin Era, Khrushchev occupied the Child ego state position; however, in the Khrushchev Era, Khrushchev himself occupied the Parent ego state position.
- Similarly, in the Khrushchev Era, Brezhnev occupied the Child ego state position; however, in the Brezhnev Era, Brezhnev himself occupied the Parent ego state position.
This pattern reflects a significant aspect of the triadic power structure: the succession process mirrors familial dynamics where the Child, upon the removal (through death or ousting) of the Parent, ascends to the Parent role. This transition guarantees continuity of the old power structure, but can also cause shifts in governance style, since it is not always what sort of “Parent” the original “Child” will be, till the Parent role is occupied.
This ego state transition is clear in the following photos, with:
- The first showing Khrushchev in the Child ego state, with Stalin in the Parent ego state.
- And the second showing Khrushchev in the Parent, after becoming the Soviet premier.
Summary
Due to the above insight identified by ChatGPT, we can modify our initial hypothesis from:
| Let’s say that we have a group power structure comprised of the above mentioned personality types: Constant Parent, Constant Adult and Constant Child. And let’s say that one of the members of the group power structure is removed (e.g. this person is now deceased). In this case, in order to maintain the stability and correct psychodynamic functioning of the triadic power structure, the replacement must occupy the same constant ego state as the person whom they are replacing.
For example, if the Constant Parent is removed from the triadic power structure, they must be replaced with another person who also occupies a Constant Parent ego state, in order to maintain the balance of Constant Parent, Constant Adult and Constant Child. |
To:
| Let’s say that we have a group power structure comprised of the above mentioned personality types: Constant Parent, Constant Adult and Constant Child. And let’s say that one of the members of the group power structure is removed (e.g. this person is now deceased). In this case, in order to maintain the stability and correct psychodynamic functioning of the triadic power structure, the replacement must occupy the same constant ego state as the person whom they are replacing.
For example, if the Constant Parent is removed from the triadic power structure, they must be replaced with another person who will be able to move into and occupy the Constant Parent ego state, in order to maintain the balance of Constant Parent, Constant Adult and Constant Child. |
In practical terms, this means that to become part of a leadership team, the contender must either:
- Naturally assume the ego state position required by the leadership role, or
- Be able to move into the ego state position required by the leadership role.
This insight allows us to make insights into and provide guidance for the leadership transition process.