What is the Drama Triangle?
The damsel in distress is being terrorized by an evil villain, just as the courageous hero shows up to save her.
It’s a classic narrative that plays out in movies, TV shows, books, fairy tales, news stories, etc. We are so used to seeing these roles in the media that we don’t recognize when we are playing them. In real life. And it wreaks havoc on our relationships.
It’s called the Drama Triangle.
The victim is terrorized by the persecutor, just as the rescuer shows up to save the day.
How does the Triangle affect your life?
The Drama Triangle is a social model developed by Dr. Stephen B Karpman that depicts destructive interaction among people in conflict. It makes for gripping entertainment, but it causes terrible pain and anxiety in relationships.
The first problem with the Drama Triangle is not knowing you’re on it.
That’s partly because the Drama Triangle is so normalized. It’s everywhere. We accept the roles at an early age so we don’t see them as toxic. In fact, we barely SEE them at all. But that doesn’t mean they don’t affect us on a very deep level.
Symptoms of being on the triangle include:
- Chronic anxiety
- Anger that erupts out of nowhere
- A need for validation
- Shame and regret
- Feeling you have been wronged
- Built-up resentment
- Push/pull relationships
- Passive-aggressive behavior
- Blaming others for your unhappiness
- Feelings of powerlessness
The Attitude of Each Role
Each position is powerless because it puts your emotional wellbeing in someone else’s hands.
Do any of these sound familiar? Maybe all of them? Most of us move positions on the triangle, although we tend to have a favorite spot where we hang out most often. The Drama Triangle has no place in a healthy relationship. The quicker you realize you’re on it, the quicker you can make your exit.
Meet Tracy
From insecurely attached to happily married
Tracy Crossley knows the emotional roller coaster of anxiety and attachment first-hand. She shares her experiences with equal parts empathy and humor, attracting thousands of podcast listeners and hundreds of clients who appreciate her candid style.
Her work centers on emotional connection—with ourselves and others—to help you get out of your head and uncover the belief system that drives your behavior. In her 12+ years of coaching, she has discovered lasting change requires three critical steps:
- Awareness
- Feeling your Feelings
- Action
The tools in Mastery incorporate all three, which is why participants experience such profound shifts. Self-help books and courses can be helpful for increasing awareness, but they often fall short when it comes to emotional connection and action.
What’s Included?
In the Drama Triangle Mini-Course, I’ll walk you through each role (victim, rescuer, persecutor) and the characterizations of each. You’ll learn why it’s damaging, what keeps you on it, and how to get off.
By the end of the course you’ll be able to spot these roles in yourself and others so you can stop creating distance in your relationships. You’ll also learn how to take a more proactive and empowered approach to getting your emotional needs met. Self-responsibility is key!
Pricing
- Four (4) 15-minute videos
- Downloadable workbook with questions and exercises for deeper exploration and self-reflection
- Lifetime access
A Note from Tracy
Remove that push/pull drama from your relationships. De-escalate tension. Take your power back. Create your own happiness and sense of wellbeing. Enjoy more peace.
Opportunity for change exists when you realize you’re engaging in behavior that works against what you want. Notice when you’re on the Drama Triangle… then promptly get off. I’ll show you how.
Xoxo,
Tracy