exploring the karpman triangle
TRANSCRIPT
Author-FallingUp,AMemoirofRenewalandLearnToThrive,AnInterven;onGuidebook
Educator-FormerFacultySDSU,SchoolofSocialWork,SDSUInterworkIns;tute
Director-AllAboutInterven;onsandPastDirectorofAlcoholandOtherDrugServicesUSD
Clinician-LCSW,CDWFCandidate
PrincipalInves7gator-DepartmentofEduca;onandNI-NIAAAandothergrants
Woman-Widow,Wife,Mother,Stepmother,Grandmother,StepGrandmother
02
ThankyoutoSoniaLevineandBrenéBrownforallyoudoforourindustry.
Thispresenta;onisinspireddirectlybyyourwork.
SoniaLevine.comBreneBrown.com
03
DevelopedbyPsychiatristStephenKarpman
ModelofDysfunc;onalInterac;oninRela;onships
CanTravelAroundtheTriangleWithYourselforOthers
CanbeApplicableinRoman;cRela;onships,Friendships,WithinOrganiza;ons,Schools,Etc.
04
Karpman Trianglea.k.a.thedramatriangle
Remorse
Powe
rlessness
AngerRescuer
Vic7m
Perpetrator
05
Victim (Martyr)
I’mnotokay,butyouare,sofixme!
Lessthan,onedown
Usesguilt,sympathyseeking,pitytogetneedsmet
Actsoutofsenseofpowerlessness
Core Belief
Coping Mechanism
06
07
Rescuer (Caretaker)
I’mokay,butyou’renot,soI’llfixyou!
Oneup,beTerthan
Seeksapproval/Worthinessthroughhelping/fixing
Actsoutofasenseoflove,compassionorduty
Maysa;sfysenseofresponsibility,oravoidguiltandshame
Core Belief
Coping Mechanism
08
Rescuer (Caretaker)
Enable,care-take,rescue,fix,people-please,assume
Failtoconfront,failtosetboundaries
Deny,tolerate,joinin,keepsecrets,buygiWs,beasuper-parent/spouse/worker
Perfec;onism/overdoing
The Ways We Rescue
09
Perpetrator (Offender)
I’mnotokay,butyou’renot,soyouneedtodowhatItellyou!
Oneup,beTerthan
Feelssenseofworth/powerthroughoffending
Actsoutofanger,resentment,revenge,senseofen;tlement,shame
Core Belief
Coping Mechanism
10
11
Perpetrator (Offender)
Abuse:Emo;onal,mental,physical,sexualDrinking,ea;ng,affairs,spending,etc.
Passiveaggressivebehaviors
Cri;cism,teasing,shaming,withdrawing,beinglate,sarcasm,cynicism,taking,sighing,raisingeyebrows,patronizing,beingself-righteous,nega;veself-talk,illness,etc.
The Ways We Offend/Victimize
12
Payoffs and Costs (Victim)
•Receivespity
•Getneedsmetbyrescuer:Feelscaredabout,loved
•Controlsothersthroughguilt,shameandpity
•Avoidsresponsibilitybyblaming
Payoffs Costs•Feelshelplessandtrapped
•Lackspersonalpower
•Livingahalflife
13
Payoffs and Costs (Rescuer)
•Feelssaintly,superior
•Maygainafalsesenseofcontrol
•Seekslove,approval,connec;ontroughhelping
•Concentratesonothersandcanavoidself
•Gainsrespectofotherrescuers
Payoffs Costs•Helpswhentheydon’twantto,whenothershavenotasked,orevenwhenharmfultoselforothers
•Gets;redanddepleted
•Feelsunappreciated(selfpity)
•Consumedwithresentment
14
15
Payoffs and Costs (Perpetrator)
•Avoidsdiscomfortandfeelingsbyoffendingothers
•Mayactoutofangerorrevengeandfeeljus;fied
•Feelsasenseofpseudopowerandworthinessbyscaringvic;ms
•Abletobeirresponsible,feelsuperior,andavoidfear
Payoffs Costs•Experiencesloneliness,lacksin;micy
•Lackshelpful,honestfeedbackbecauseofothersfear
•Lackofrespectfromothers(andself)
16
17
To Be Clear...
Victim Role Being Victimized
Rescuer Role Serving Those in Need
18
The Way In
Unrealis7cExpecta7ons
WhatisthestoryIammakingup? Shame
19
The Way In
Shame
Iamnotenough Vic7m
Whodoyouthinkyouare?
PerpetratorRescuer
20
Shame
Shame is the intensely painful feeling or
experience that “I am flawed and unworthy
of belonging”
21
Victim (Martyr)
Shamesays:“Iwillneverbelong,so...”
Correlateswithshameshieldof“movingaway”
Vic7m
PerpetratorRescuer
•Ifsomeonedoesn’tlovemeorlikeme,thanImustnotbelikeableorloveable
•IwillneverhavewhatIneedorwant
•Whyme?Poorme!It’snotfair!etc.
22
Rescuer (Caretaker)
Shamesays:“Iamnotenough,so...”
Correlateswithshameshieldof“movingtowards”
Vic7m
PerpetratorRescuer
•Letmetakecareofyou
•Doforyou
•Bakeyoucupcakes,etc.
23
Perpetrator (Offender)
Shamesays:“Iamunloveable,
unlikeable”
Correlateswithshameshieldof“movingagainst”
Vic7m
PerpetratorRescuer
•Ifhe/sheonlylovedmethenhewould...
24
Role Play
Whatrolesarethe
charactersplaying?
Vic7m Watchhowtheymovearoundthetriangle
Rescuer Perpetrator
25
The Way Out: Rising Strong
Walkintoyourstory
Recognizeemo;ons/getcuriousaboutourfeelingsandhowtheyconnectwiththewaywethinkandbehave
Ownyourstory
Gethonestaboutthestorieswearemakingupaboutourstruggle
Challengetheseconfabula;ons/assump;onstodeterminewhat’struth,what’sself-protec;on,andwhatneedstochangeifwewanttoleadmorewholeheartedlives
The Reckoning
The Rumble
WriteanewendingtoyourstorybasedonthekeylearningsfromTheRumble
Usethisnewbraverstorytochangehowweengagewiththeworld,ul;matelyleadingtotransforma;on
The Revolution
26
Workfromassump7onsandinten7onsofcompassionandgrace
Beaccountab
le
Exploreandsetandmaintain
bounderiesPermission
slips
Selfcompassion
Mindfulness
Ques7onexpecta7ons
The Way Out Tools and Practices
Tac7calBreathing
Choosecourageovercomfort
Selfcare
Getcurious:Exploreyour
story
“SFD”
27
Resources
www.karpmandramatriangle.comwww.poweroWed.com
www.self-compassion.orgwww.mindfulselfcompassion.org
www.centerformsc.org
RisingStrongbyDr.BrenéBrownDaringGreatlybyDr.BrenéBrown
GiHsofImperfec;onbyDr.BrenéBrown
28