The Karpman Triangle: Victim, Rescuer, Persecutor

Three people play in your relationships. And no one ends up winning.

The Karpman Triangle is a model introduced by psychiatrist Stephen Karpman. It describes how people in relationships switch between three roles: Victim, Rescuer, and Persecutor. And here is the thing: these are not permanent roles. Today you are the Rescuer, tomorrow the Victim, the day after the Persecutor. But the game stays the same.

The Victim is the one who feels helpless. "I can't do anything." "I feel so bad." "No one understands me." The Victim isn't necessarily truly suffering. Sometimes they simply play this role to get someone to come to their aid.