The drama triangle
The Drama Triangle
As transactional analysis postulates, our interactions and behaviors are shaped by the "games we play." The *drama triangle *(Karpman, 1960) is a framework of human interaction that identifies three roles we often partake as individuals in the social context: the Victim; the Persecutor (Villain); the Hero (Rescuer). These characters are especially applicable in the context of conflict and can rotate among individuals during social interactions.
- The Victim → The "victim" is the person convincing himself/herself and others that nothing can be done to solve the issue. Victims believe they have no power or control over the situation, and, in the context of a conflict/problem-solving situation, that everything is screwed. Their main "stance" is "Poor Me!". The role of the victim has a highly disempowered nature, where everything that occurs seems to be perceived as an uncontrollable, external variable (fixed mindset).
When analyzing the role of the victim, we can notice some cognitive distortions at play: catastrophizing, magnification, all-or-nothing thinking, mental filter/selective abstraction, emotional reasoning.
- The Hero (Rescuer) → The role of the "hero" is quite the opposite of "the victim." The hero seeks temporary relief. "Heroes" try to "come to rescue" the situation by offering their help, hence accommodating the victim's behavior and subconsciously reinforcing it. While the role of the "hero" may seem a positive one, at first sight, that is not the case in dysfunctional social interactions. By attempting to "rescue" the victim, it is as if the hero reinforced the victim's behavior, hence keeping the victim in his/her deeply distorted view. It appears there may be a positive correlation between the role of the hero and the Big Five Personality Trait "Agreeableness." When you score high in agreeableness, reducing negative emotions for yourself and the people around you is one of your top priorities. The hero may often attempt to take full responsibility for the conflict, stating something along the lines of "Ok, it's all my fault and I'll take responsibility." Heroes create co-dependence, and their resentment toward victims/villains can grow over time, leading them to turn into villains themselves.
- The villain (persecutor) → Villains point their fingers at others or themselves, constantly blaming instead of trying to find constructive solutions. Labeling/mislabeling, personalization, should statements, all-or-nothing thinking are some of the major cognitive distortions driving the villain's behavior.
Drama triangles are dysfunctional and "emotion" oriented. The interplay of the roles described above usually begins with a "victim" entering a tough situation/beginning a conversation. The key negative aspect of drama triangles lies in the lack of co-responsibility shouldered by the people involved. Every one of the triangle's roles is imbalanced when it comes to personal responsibility. The victim believes the power is somewhere "out there" and she/he cannot do anything about it. The hero would like to take full responsibility just to seek short-term rewards and delay the issue. The villain overbears responsibility/blames it all on other individuals. Overcoming the drama triangle means understanding that every person taking part in a conflict shares responsibility and resolution capacities. It is only by keeping calm, naming the issue, burdening personal responsibility, and believing we can change things that the drama triangle is transcended, for the better option of constructive human collaboration.