Rising from the Drama Triangle

In the late 60s psychologist Stephen Karpman introduced the concept of the Drama Triangle, a dynamic triad of three archetypes, the victim, the persecutor, and the rescuer. As a culture, we are enamored, even obsessed, with this triangle, which features in most acclaimed series and films. The dynamic consists of three main players: The victim, who tends to yield to the pressure of the rescuer or persecutor, taking a stance of “woe is me” and offering excuses over seeking out creative solutions. The persecutor, who often engages in a blame/defense communication strategy, deflecting blame from themselves onto others. And finally, my personal temptation, the rescuer, marred with guilt if they see suffering of the victim and don’t step in; they also may subconsciously feel rewarded or validated for efforts to help.