Drama Triangle

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Drama Triangle Power

• From Dimensions of Ethical Decision Making
• Anna Witter-Merithew Kellie Mills Stewart

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Drama Triangle

• This term Drama Triangle relates to a
  psychological game that we may unconsciously play
  as a result of dysfunctional patterns we learned
  growing up as part of our families and society.
• The Drama Triangle depicts the roles we can
  engage in when we are trapped in a cycle of
  unproductive relationships.

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Karpmans Drama Triangle

• Persecutor
• Rescuer
• Victim

PERSECUTOR
RESCUER
VICTIM
Even though only one is called victim, all three
originate out of and end up back at the position
of victim
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What is the Drama Triangle?

• Victim
• Shirking Responsibility
• Blaming Others
• Feeling At the mercy of or done in by others
• Cycle of the Drama Triangle
• Check out Lynne Forrests website
• http//lynneforrest.com/html/the_faces_of_victim.h
  tml

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• Playing the Drama Triangle Game by Theresa
  Smith
• A small agency hired two interpreters for a staff
  meeting but at the last minute one interpreter
  cancelled. The Director asked the remaining
  interpreter if she could handle the meeting
  alone. The interpreter said she would try. After
  the two-hour meeting, which was intense, the
  interpreter was both exhausted and upset. She
  approached the Director and complained, telling
  him how exhausted she was. Complaining about the
  way the situation had been handled. She was angry
  and asked to be paid double. The director felt
  angry in return. He had other work to attend to
  and felt he had been straight with the
  interpreter from the beginning.

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• An Analysis
• The Director had a real problem and needed help.
  Instead of negotiating from a position of
  awareness and self-respect, the interpreter went
  for a Rescue.
• Being accommodating and thinking of others is
  commendable-to a point.
• The interpreter didnt talk about her own needs
  and limits and how they would be accommodated.
• Her anger was predictable as anger is often the
  result of a Rescue.
• She then switched to Persecutor, blaming the
  director and dumping her feelings on him trying
  to make him responsible for her decision.

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Power

• Power is about interpersonal influence that stems
  from the amount of self-awareness you have about
  your strengths, abilities and worth.
• There are different sources of power and
  influence, on the next slide are a few

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• Personal power is the interpersonal influence
  that stems from the amount of self-awareness you
  have about your strengths, abilities and worth.
• Legitimate power is based on the authority of a
  position one holds. The power is attached to the
  position or status the person holds.
• Reward power is the ability to compensate and
  give rewards for completed tasks or favors.
  Rewards might include money, public praise,
  promotion, acceptance and attention. (contd)

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• Coercive power is the ability to punish. It is
  based on fear and the perception that individuals
  will or should be punished if they do not
  conform. Withholding valued resources or
  emotional support from others is one way this
  type of power can be exercised.
• Referent power is based on the attractiveness and
  appeal of individuals that causes them to be
  liked personally. People with referent power are
  respected for their competence and personal
  characteristics regardless of their formal
  authority. People respond to requests because
  they like this person. (contd)

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• Expert power is the influence given to an
  individual who has superior knowledge, ability or
  skill. This base can be derived from special
  training, experience, scope of knowledge
  possessed, exceptional skill or competence.
• Information power is the influence people have
  when they hold information that others need or
  want. The information is of such a nature that it
  is valuable and desired.

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Discussion Questions

• Consider examples of how those kinds of power are
  being used in society.
• Think of how you have expressed or experienced
  examples of the types of power listed above.