I'm OK, You're OK

I'm OK, You're OK (later republished as I'm OK- You're OK, ISBN 038000772X) by author Thomas Anthony Harris , is one of the most successful self-help books ever published. It was originally published in 1967 by Pan Macmillan , and was an almost instant bestseller. It is still in print, published by Harpercollins, and is estimated to have sold over 15 million copies to date.

Transactional Analysis

Harris introduces his concept of Transactional Analysis in this book. He theorizes that there are four transactional states that a person goes through, and that it is important to go through each.

1. I'm Not OK, You're OK
2. I'm Not OK, You're Not OK
3. I'm OK, You're Not OK
4. I'm OK, You're OK

He claims that people often get "stuck" in one of the stages and theorizes how one can move on.

Criticism

Many transactional analysts have regarded Harris too far enough away from core TA beliefs to be considered a transactional analyst. A fundamental divergence, however, between Harris and Berne is that Berne postulates that everyone starts life out in the "I'm OK position" whereas Harris feels life starts out "I'm not OK, you're OK".

Moreover, those highly critical of the work and its philosophy generally found the book too simplistic, and found its attempt to offer a universal panacea unappealing.

Influence

The title of the book has since passed into common usage, although often as a dismissive categorization of all pop psychology philosophies as being overly accepting. The phrase I'm OK, You're OK is almost a universal cliche in Anglophone culture, at least among an older generation more accustomed to hearing the phrase.

• Punk rock band The Dickies had a song called "I'm OK, You're OK."
• Rock band MxPx also had a song called "I'm OK, You're OK," criticizing pediatric psychology in general.