Encompass Connection Center
  • Home
  • About ECC
  • RINGS
  • Donate
  • Get in touch
  • BLOG
PRACTICAL TIPS & INSIGHTS FOR YOUR

RELATIONSHIPS

get off the dreaded drama triangle

8/28/2018

1 Comment

 
Picture
Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash
By Lavern Nissley

You've likely heard of the Bermuda Triangle, a region in the western Atlantic Ocean where a number of ships and aircraft have disappeared mysteriously. Not surprisingly, it's also called the Devil's Triangle.

Less familiar to most people is the Dreaded Drama Triangle, a social model of human interaction, especially when conflict is involved. It's as ominous and scary as the Bermuda Triangle. Want to know why?
A picture is worth a 1000 words, so the diagram below pretty much spells out the essence of the Dreaded Drama Triangle, developed by Dr. Stephen Karpman in the 1960's. It includes three key roles, all focusing on problems.
Picture
The Victim feels powerless and at the mercy of life events. He or she may not take personal responsibility, finding it easier to blame others. The Persecutor is a person or life event that functions as an adversary or "thorn in the flesh", leaving Victims in their wake. The Rescuer is always looking for Victims to save, even when others are responsible or could do it themselves. Rescuing makes them feel needed.

Does this look familiar? Have you found yourself in any of these three roles, either in couple, family or organizational settings?

​Fortunately there is a way off of the Dreaded Drama Triangle! David Emerald, in The Power of Ted* (The Empowerment Dynamic), identifies three additional roles that are more focused upon positive opportunities.

The Creator is opposite the Victim, and is characterized by owning responsibilities and exercising choices for positive outcomes. The Challenger is opposite the Persecutor, and is a powerful motivator toward positive changes. The Coach is opposite the Rescuer, and becomes a skilled asker of clarifying questions.
Picture
So here is a possible takeaway. Find the role you recognize in yourself on the Dreaded Drama Triangle. Reflect upon how this role negatively affects you and others. Now find the opposite role on TED Triangle. What would it look like to focus more of your time and energies here? It's worth a try! I mean, wouldn't you rather experience empowerment than drama?
Learn more about these triangles
1 Comment
Abedallatif
1/24/2020 11:24:14 pm

Thanks

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Hosts

    Lavern & Ronda Nissley are co-directors of Encompass. Married since 1978, both enjoy coffee, riding their tandem bicycle and working together to build strong relationships.

    Picture

    TOPICS

    All
    5 Love Languages
    Abuse
    ACE Score
    Achievement
    Aging
    Amygdala Hijack
    Anger
    Any Relationship
    Apologizing
    Asking Great Questions
    Attention
    Bids
    Busy Calendar
    Children
    Christmas
    Commitment
    Communication
    Competition
    Conflict
    Confronting
    Connection
    Consequences
    Death
    Deposits
    Emotions
    Empathy
    Especially For Couples
    Especially For Families
    Especially For Organizations
    Exercise
    Expectations
    Family Business
    Family Trees
    Fear
    Forgiveness
    Generational Trends
    Genetics
    Getting Along
    Getting Things Done
    Giving
    Gratitude
    Healthy Eating
    Healthy Lifestyle
    Holidays
    Humility
    Humor
    Illness
    Infidelity
    Insomnia
    Leadership
    Learning
    Legacy
    Listening
    Love
    Love Defined
    Minimalizing
    Morale
    Offenses
    Office Culture
    Our Stories
    Outcome Orientation
    Parenting
    Peace
    Planning
    Polarization
    Praying Together
    Problem Orientation
    Productivity
    Research
    Restoration
    Retirement
    RINGS Chat
    RINGS Experience
    Romantic Attraction
    Schedule
    Screen Use
    Sleeping
    Smartphones
    Stress
    Success
    Suicide
    Surprises
    Survey
    Talking
    Teamwork
    Teens
    Timeouts
    Traits
    Understanding
    Valentine's Day
    Virtual Relationships
    Wedding
    Withdrawals
    Working Out

    Subscribe

    * indicates required

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018

Picture

FIND IT QUICKLY

Refer A CLIENT
SHOP RINGS PROGRAM
bring rings to my area

STAY CONNECTED

OFFICE HOURS

MON 9a-6p
TUE 9a-3p
WED 9a-3p
THU 9a-3p
​Others hours by appointment
call us

VISIT US

616 N. Limestone St. | Springfield, OH
Encompass Connection Center services are provided to all eligible persons on a non-discriminatory basis. Encompass Connection Center complies with all applicable laws and regulations concerning discrimination does not discriminate on the basis of the potential participant's race, gender, gender orientation, age, disability or religion.
  • Home
  • About ECC
  • RINGS
  • Donate
  • Get in touch
  • BLOG