Karpman drama triangle

The drama triangle is a psychological and social model of human interaction in transactional analysis first descibed by Stephen Karpman. The model posits two or three Players in a Game which leads to an unsatisfactory outcome for all participants. Yet this doesn't stop people from repeating their roles.

The game has three roles, which the players may shift between:

Rescuer
Victim
Persecutor

The Rescuer pretends or professes to helping the Victim, a person who may or may not actually need help. Note that the "game" position of Rescuer is distinct from that of a genuine rescuer such as a firefighter who saves a victim from a burning building or a lifeguard who saves a victim from drowning.

There is something dishonest about the Rescuer's attempts, or at best, a mixed motive.

Table of contents

1 An example
2 Books
3 Links

An example

An example would be a welfare caseworker whose official function to get clients off welfare and to support themselves with jobs. If the caseworker does anything to prolong the dependency relationship, she is not really helping but "Rescuing".

There may be subtle or overt pressure from her agency not to have too many successful clients. Threatening to cut off benefits to obviously lazy or selfish clients would be frowned on -- even if or especially if such tactics resulted in clients suddenly finding gainful employment after years of dependency.

For the drama triangle to come into full flower, one of the players must shift positions. For example, a Victim may become a Persecutor complaining of getting too much help, not enough help, or the wrong kind of help. A Rescuer may become a Persecutor, complaining that the clients don't appreciate her enough.

Officials at the welfare agency may take a role in the game, Rescuing staff and clients as long as they play along quietly but Persecuting any staff who start showing good results.

Books

I'm Okay, You're Okay

Games People Play, Eric Berne