The Influence of Transactional Analysis on Open-Mindedness and Self-Perceived Creativity of Students in Higher Education

The importance of developing 21st-century skills for students in higher education is widely recognized. Open-mindedness plays a significant role in creativity and communication, which are considered to be important 21st-century skills. In this research article, we explore whether transactional analysis can positively stimulate higher education students’ open-mindedness. The study was conducted among students of two universities of applied sciences, one in the Netherlands and the other in Finland. The quantitative analyses showed a paradoxical effect. The creativeness score of the research group decreased whereas the creativeness score of the control group increased. However, analysis of the qualitative interviews showed that both Dutch and Finnish students reported the intervention created greater awareness of and insight into their own actions and group processes. It seems they developed a more realistic view of their performance, including their creativity, than they had before. The teachers confirmed this enhanced awareness and insight among their students.