The nature of the triangle
The Karpman Triangle (also known as the drama triangle) includes three action roles (victim, rescuer and persecutor) which you can learn more about here. Only these three roles are necessary to depict the emotional terminal that is drama as drama can only begin when these roles are established. Drama is also affected by script range (changes in location such as: weather, time, season, unconscious symbols, dimensions) and script velocity (number of role switches/changing adventures).
Like other theories, the Karpman triangle is subject to cognitive biases. The triangle offers three distinct motives behind any unexplained action but of course, who plays each role is subject to unconscious bias. Each character or person can be cast into any role depending on your views and the information you take into account, check out the example below.
Examples
Here are four examples of how any character can become the victim, rescuer or persecutor. Beware of minor and major spoilers ahead!!
Little Red Riding Hood is the...
Victim because she is eaten by the Big Bad Wolf
Rescuer because she delivers food to her grandmother
Persecutor because she forces the woodcutter into rescuing her
Big Bad Wolf is the...
Victim because he is killed by the woodcutter
Rescuer because he rescues himself from dying of starvation
Persecutor because he eats Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother
The Woodcutter is the...
Victim because he is forced to kill the wolf to save Red and her grandmother
Rescuer because he kills the wolf to save Red and her grandmother
Persecutor because he kills the wolf
Joanna is the...
Victim because she loses her baby and is manipulated into lying about it
Rescuer because she gets herself away from Alistair when she discovers the truth
Persecutor because she murders her husband for killing her baby
Alistair is the...
Victim because he is murdered and both his children are taken from him
Rescuer because he stops Joanna going to prison
Persecutor because he kills his son and he manipulates Joanna into lying about the death of their son and uses that against her constantly
Alexandra is the...
Victim because she is a victim of Alistair's manipulation just like Joanna and is accused of abduction/murder
Rescuer because she saves herself and her daughter from Alistair's manipulation and supports Joanna (to some extent)
Persecutor because she took Alistair's first child from him
Dawson is the...
Victim because his 'soulmate' (Joey) falls in love with his best friend
Rescuer because he lets Pacey stay with him when things get bad with his family
Persecutor because he cannot let Joey go after they break up and forces her to go to prom with him to keep her away from Pacey
Joey is the...
Victim because she has very little say in Dawson and Pacey fighting over her, something which doesn't fit well with her character, they essentially play tug of war with her
Rescuer because she helps Pacey with his issues
Persecutor because she falls in love with Pacey and Dawson, causing a love triangle and breaks up with both of them at some point in the series
Pacey is the...
Victim because he is bullied and verbally abused by his family continuously and is cheated on by his first love Andie
Rescuer because he helps Andie through her psychotic break and helps Joey with her issues
Persecutor because he falls in love with his best friend 'soulmate'
Amy is the...
Victim because she is cheated on by her husband
Rescuer because she gets herself away from her husband when their marriage begins to fail
Persecutor because she forces Nick to "rise to her level", frames him her murder and forces Nick to stay with her forever with her lies and the use of the media
Nick is the...
Victim because he is forced to be with a psychopath forever after being framed for murder
Rescuer because he allows Amy to come out of hiding by giving her a signal over national TV
Persecutor because he forced Amy into the role of the 'cool girl' and cheated on her
Desi is the...
Victim because he is murdered and framed for rape by Amy for simply loving her
Rescuer because he takes Amy in when she has nowhere else to turn
Persecutor because he forces Amy into the role she doesn't want and spent around 20 years sending her letters despite the fact she is married to someone else
Thank you for reading!
Comments