Games People Play

Welcome back to The It Girl Playbook! In this episode, we’re unpacking the book “Games People Play” by Dr. Eric Berne — and how it explains why people act the way they do in relationships, friendships, and everyday life. Because most people don’t actually want conflict. They want control. They want to feel safe. And sometimes… they want to be right. We’ll break down 7 common Emotional Games People Play: 1) “Why Don’t You – Yes, But” – Asks for advice, rejects every answer. They don’t want solutions — just validation for staying stuck. 2) “If It Weren’t for You” – Blames others for their lack of progress to avoid facing fear or failure. 3) “Now I’ve Got You, You Son of a B*tch” – Waits for a mistake, then lashes out to feel right or justified. 4) “See What You Made Me Do” – Hurts you, then blames you for it. Emotional manipulation in disguise. 5) “I’m Only Trying to Help” – Gives unasked-for advice, then gets upset when it’s not welcomed. 6) “Martyr” (aka Poor Me) – Always the victim. Uses guilt and sympathy to avoid asking directly. 7) “Kick Me” – Self-sabotages and tolerates mistreatment, then feels “proven right” when it happens. This episode will help you make sense of confusing interactions, set better boundaries, and shift from reaction to awareness. Whether you’ve been blamed, guilt-tripped, constantly “helped” without asking, or just stuck playing the role of the responsible one — this is for you. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:56 Why Emotional Games Happen 2:35 “Why Don’t You – Yes, But” 3:51 “If It Weren’t for You” 5:14 “Now I’ve Got You, You Son of a B*tch” 6:48 “See What You Made Me Do” 7:56 “I’m Only Trying to Help” 9:34 “Martyr” (a.k.a. Poor Me) 11:11 “Kick Me” 12:46 Final Message Get 'Games People Play' on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kVzrcE Get The Playbook Mini (yes, it's free): https://itgirlplaybook.com/products/the-playbook-mini For more glow up videos, check out our sister channel: @ItGirlGlowUp #ItGirlPlaybook #GamesPeoplePlay #DrEricBerne #EmotionalIntelligence #PsychologyBreakdown #SelfAwareness #MindGamesExplained #SelfImprovement #Empowerment #LevelUp #Psychology