The Parent ego state contains the values, morals, core beliefs, and behaviors
incorporated from significant authority figures, primarily one’s parents.
Outwardly, this ego state is expressed toward others in critical or nurturing behavior. Inwardly, it is experienced as old parental messages that continue
to influence the inner Child. When we are in the Parent ego state, we react to
situations as we imagine our parents might have reacted, or we may act toward
others the way our parents acted toward us. The Parent contains all the
“shoulds” and “oughts” and other rules for living. When we are in that ego
state, we may act in ways that are strikingly similar to those of our parents or
other significant people in our early life. We may use some of their very phrases,
and our posture, gestures, voice, and mannerisms may replicate those that
we experienced in our parents.