The Karpman Drama Triangle Workshop
Read time: 5 minutes
The Karpman Drama Triangle is a social model of human interaction developed by psychiatrist Stephen Karpman in the 1960s.
It outlines a pattern of dysfunctional relationships in which people assume one of three distinct roles: Victim, Prosecutor, or Rescuer.
These roles can change, often creating a cycle of conflict and emotional drama.
The interaction starts with one person taking on a role, but over time, roles can shift.
For example, the Rescuer may become the Victim if they feel unappreciated, or the Victim may become the Persecutor if they blame the Rescuer for their situation.
The triangle is often used to understand conflict in personal relationships, workplaces, or therapeutic settings.
Breaking free from the Karpman Drama Triangle requires individuals to recognise these roles and adopt healthier behaviours, such as:
The Drama Triangle impacts relationships in all areas of life—at work, in families, and friendships.
It’s easy to fall into these roles without realising it, leading to cycles of blame, helplessness, and frustration.
Many try to "fix" their relationships or solve conflicts by staying within these toxic roles.
The Rescuer feels responsible for everyone, the Victim avoids accountability, and the Persecutor drives others away with blame.
Until these roles are recognised and replaced with healthier alternatives, the cycle of dysfunction continues.
“Breaking free from the Drama Triangle is the key to healthier, more fulfilling personal and professional relationships.”
Here’s a simple 3-step workshop that uses the Karpman Drama Triangle to help participants recognise and shift away from dysfunctional relationship roles.
In this workshop your participants will:
Workshop Objective
To learn how to identify the Victim, Persecutor, and Rescuer dynamics and practise healthier, constructive alternatives.
Workshop Title
Breaking the Drama Triangle: Creating Empowering Relationships
Step 1: Introduction & Overview
Duration: 20 minutes
Objective: Introduce participants to the Karpman Drama Triangle and its roles (Victim, Persecutor, Rescuer). Lay the foundation for recognising these patterns in everyday interactions.
Activity:
- 1Facilitator Presentation:
Briefly explain the Karpman Drama Triangle and its three roles. Use simple, relatable examples to illustrate how these roles appear in conversations or relationships. - 2Group Discussion:
→ Ask participants to think of times when they might have played one of these roles (Victim, Persecutor, or Rescuer) and discuss in pairs or small groups.
→ Prompt them with questions like:
"Have you ever felt the need to rescue someone or been rescued?"
"When have you felt like a Victim or found yourself blaming others?" - 3Debrief:
→ Gather insights from the discussion by asking a few volunteers to share their examples with the group. Highlight patterns and behaviours.
Step 2: Role-Playing the Drama Triangle
Duration: 30 minutes
Objective: Help participants understand how the Drama Triangle roles through role-playing scenarios.
Activity:
- 1Divide Participants into Groups of 3:
→ Each group will act out a short scenario in which one person plays the Victim, one the Persecutor, and one the Rescuer.
→ Provide them with the sample scenarios in this pack (or separate download).
→ Encourage creativity and let them adjust the script to fit different settings (work, family, etc.). - 2Switch Roles:
→ After acting out the scenario, have participants switch roles and replay the situation from a different perspective. This helps them experience the emotions and motivations behind each role. - 3Group Debrief:
→ After each group finishes, bring everyone back together. Discuss:
How did it feel to play each role?
Were any roles more comfortable or familiar than others?
How might these roles show up in real-life situations?
Step 3: Breaking Free from the Triangle
Duration: 30 minutes
Objective: Teach participants strategies to break out of the Drama Triangle by shifting to healthier, more constructive roles.
Activity:
- 1Facilitator Presentation:
→ Introduce alternatives to each role:
Victim → Creator: Take responsibility and find ways to address challenges rather than feeling powerless.
Persecutor → Challenger: Provide constructive feedback and challenge others to grow without attacking or blaming.
Rescuer → Coach: Support others in finding solutions rather than rescuing them. - 2Role Playing:
→ Ask participants to return to their small groups. This time, they will replay their earlier scenarios but focus on breaking out of the triangle by embodying the healthier roles (Creator, Challenger, Coach).
→ They should work together to rewrite their original scenario, guiding the interaction toward a constructive resolution. - 3Debrief:
→ Bring the group back together and discuss the changes they observed.
How did the interaction change when people shifted out of the Victim, Persecutor, and Rescuer roles?
What new possibilities emerged when people took responsibility or provided constructive support?
Reflection
Duration: 10 minutes
Conclusion & Summary
This simple 3-step workshop helps your team move beyond drama, creating a foundation for more authentic and positive connections in all areas of life.
It gives your team a solid understanding of the Karpman Drama Triangle and some practical tools for overcoming unhealthy dynamics.
By combining theory, role-playing, and actionable strategies it ensures an engaging and impactful learning experience.
If you want the unbranded supporting slides and role-playing scenarios for this workshop, you can get them in my Tools & Activities Library.
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