The Unending Drama Between Rescuer, Persecutor and Victim In essence, the Drama Triangle (which is also called the Rescue Triangle or Karpman's Triangle) is a set of three interrelated roles that people may play in a relationship: rescuer, persecutor and victim.
Stephen Karpman, M.D., developed his “drama triangle” – victim, rescuer, persecutor – almost 40 years ago, and I find it's just as relevant – and just as new to many people – as it was 40 years ago.
The triangular theory of love is a theory of love developed by Robert Sternberg. In the context of interpersonal relationships, "the three components of love, according to the triangular theory, are an intimacy component, a passion component, and a commitment component."
Background: The term 'toxic trio' is used to describe the issues of domestic abuse, mental ill-health and substance misuse, identified as common features of families where significant harm to children has occurred.
In summary, to stay out of the drama triangle you need the skillsets of assertiveness, compassion, empathy and self-awareness. By empathising, you are unlikely to be aggressive. By being self-aware, you are less likely to to rescue.
A codependency triangle describes the three different roles codependents and narcissists play in a toxic relationship. Narcissists and codependents are two opposites, yet have common dysfunctional behavioral patterns. Both suffer from codependency issues and have patterns of codependency.
People who are (usually unknowingly) participating in a drama triangle, find themselves playing one of three roles. These are victim, rescuer, and persecutor. In enmeshed families, people usually identify with one role, but they may sometimes play different roles…as long as they stay within the triangle.
In order to understand the drama triangle, imagine a triangle and, at each of its points, is a “role” that we and others play. These roles are: persecutor, victim, and rescuer. The persecutor role particularly suits the narcissist.
The Unending Drama Between Rescuer, Persecutor and Victim
In essence, the Drama Triangle (which is also called the Rescue Triangle or Karpman's Triangle) is a set of three interrelated roles that people may play in a relationship: rescuer, persecutor and victim.
The narcissistic mother takes pleasure in creating a situation where the siblings have to compete for her attention by unfair means. This can create jealousy between the siblings, making them become arch-enemies.
A triangle might occur between 3 people (for example 2 parents and their child), or between two people and a third element (like work or illness). The trouble is, adding a third point (usually unknowingly) stops you from actually addressing relationship problems head on.
The Creator is opposite the Victim, and is characterized by owning responsibilities and exercising choices for positive outcomes. The Challenger is opposite the Persecutor, and is a powerful motivator toward positive changes. The Coach is opposite the Rescuer, and becomes a skilled asker of clarifying questions.
The Karpman Drama Triangle models the connection between personal responsibility and power in conflicts, and the destructive and shifting roles people play. He defined three roles in the conflict; Persecutor, Rescuer (the one up positions) and Victim (one down position).
A toxic relationship is one that makes you feel unsupported, misunderstood, demeaned, or attacked. A relationship is toxic when your well-being is threatened in some way—emotionally, psychologically, and even physically.
People with toxic traits know they have them
It's natural to assume someone's bad behavior is a conscious choice. But many people with toxic traits don't realize that their behavior impacts others. You may have toxic traits that you don't know about. Some toxic traits, like absolutism, manifest subtly.
Red Flags When You're In a Relationship With a Narcissist
Downplays your emotions. Uses manipulative tactics to “win” arguments. Love bombing, especially after a fight. Makes you second-guess yourself constantly.
The narcissist requires 4 Ss from his intimate partners: sex, supply (sadistic or narcissistic), services, and safety.
Abstract. Recent literature on narcissism argues that there are three factors covering the construct: agentic, antagonistic, and neurotic.
The term Drama Triangle is a concept that Psychologist Stephen Karpman introduced in 1968.It is also known as the 'Victim Triangle' and demonstrates how people take on dysfunctional roles to address conflict. The behavior stems from a need to be perceived as 'right' or 'approved' in our minds or that of others.
Characteristics of Co-dependent People Are:
A tendency to become hurt when people don't recognize their efforts. An unhealthy dependence on relationships. The co-dependent will do anything to hold on to a relationship; to avoid the feeling of abandonment.