The Karpman Triangle: how we get stuck in roles

In any conflict or tense situation, people often take on one of three roles — unconsciously, but with a clear benefit for themselves. This model is called the Karpman triangle.

Roles in the Karpman triangle

• Victim. The person demonstrates helplessness, shifts responsibility for their life onto others, and passively waits for someone to "save" them. They often provoke others into action in order to receive support and attention.
• Persecutor (Aggressor). Exerts pressure, controls, criticizes, dominates, and shows aggression. Behind such behavior often lie personal problems, anxiety, or an inability to cope with one's own emotions.
• Rescuer. Tries to help, takes on solving problems, often without a real request. Behind this hides a need for self-affirmation and a sense of one's own importance. The result is irritation and devaluation of the one being "rescued."

Why does this model work like a vicious circle?

Participants unconsciously maintain this dynamic because each receives their own secondary gain:

• The Victim sheds responsibility and receives attention;
• The Persecutor asserts themselves through control and aggression;
• The Rescuer feeds their sense of self-importance.

At the same time, no one solves the real problem.

How to get out of the triangle?

The first step: become aware of which role you (or someone close to you) are in. Understand what exactly you gain by staying in that role. Then comes work on awareness, establishing personal boundaries, and finding more mature ways of interacting.