Are you stuck in the drama triangle?

The Drama Triangle is a psychological concept conceived by Stephen Karpman in the 1960s. It illustrates the dysfunctional interaction patterns within a team by describing three roles we all sometimes fall into. By role-playing these in our workshops and coaching sessions, we help people understand their own tendencies and how to step into more empowered and positive roles. 
 

• The Victim feels powerless and helpless. They perceive themself as a victim of circumstances (the traffic, their bank statement, the task they’ve just been asked to do), and they look for sympathy and help from others.

• The Persecutor criticises, blames, or imposes their negative judgments on others (you should have been more prepared, they shouldn’t keep dumping work on me, the policy is making my life difficult).

• The Rescuer feels compelled to save or fix others (let me do that for you). By stepping in to help even when it's unwanted, they undermine others, create a sense of dependency, and can come to resent those they’re ‘helping’. 

 
You can liberate yourself from this cycle using The Empowerment Dynamic, introduced by David Emerald. These powerful transitions let you escape the drama and create strong, collaborative relationships instead:
 

• The Victim turns into the Creator, taking proactive ownership of the situation and finding solutions.

• The Persecutor becomes the Challenger, providing constructive feedback to others, inspiring and challenging them. 

• The Rescuer evolves into the Coach, guiding others without imposing their solutions.