Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Dramafied Disagreement in the Drama Triangle


Stephen Karpman, MD, a student of Eric Berne (transactional analysis) developed the social model of the Drama Triangle. Unlike dramafied behaviors and transactions that support learning, the Drama Triangle is a closed system that denies embracing new knowledge. Participants are more invested in emotional drama than outcomes. The Drama Triangle describes the roles we play in transactions to avoid thinking.

The Drama Triangle is a game of deflection. Rather than seeking resolution, the reactive characters who play the roles of Victim, Persecutor or Rescuer are unwilling to go past their feelings and embrace new thinking. In addition, Karpman observed that we can be seduced by the energy generated in conflict. Drama, drama, drama.



VICTIMS are helpless and ashamed, deniers of personal responsibility for their attitude and actions. To win means to have everyone's attention and pity.
PERSECUTORS are bullies who blame and take no responsibility for any harm they cause to others. To win means to shut down an interaction.
RESCUERS are needy caretakers seeking to be seen as good even at their own expense, ignoring underlying conflicts. To win means to make everyone happy.
The only way to escape the games played in the Drama Triangle is to stop playing. If you want to see the drama triangle in action, participate in a volatile political or religious thread on Twitter. Fallacies of thought are often used to maintain the drama.  

No comments:

Post a Comment