Thanks to a client’s question, here is a process to navigate with a typical toxic relationship situation.
Self Coaching
Once you have read this article, pick one situation where the drama triangle is mostly probable, and unfold what has been going on and how you could improve your own reaction next time.
Remember that to deal with that type of complex relational situation you need to train, fail again, train… and succeed more and more often.
What is this Drama Triangle about ?
The « Drama Triangle » is a model based on Transactional Analysis and designed by Stephen B. Karpman an American psychiatrist in 1968, unveiling a typical relational scenario with three roles : victim, persecutor and savior.

From a neuroscientific point of view, these three roles are based on automatic modes. And can be analysed as :
- the victim being on « flight » or « freeze » mode – either avoidant and frightened, or paralyzed and sad
- the persecutor being on « fight » mode – agressive and angry
- the savior seeking external acknowledgment of being a good person
Antidotes to the Drama Triangle
The antidotes to recover freedom out of these automatic modes are :
- « Phase 0 » Step back from the game at play :
- become conscious that this is a relational game being played, and sort out who is most probably playing what role
- in other words : shift your own brain into Adaptive Mode
- « Phase 1 » Once you have identified your own role :
- antidote for the victim :
- recognize their inner feelings, be able to express their needs, take their responsibilities in the situation -vs feeling small or childish, powerless, complaining-
- in other words : owning their needs and accepting their own agency on the situation
- antidote for the savior :
- asking what type of help would be needed, consciously onboarding the risk of not being asked to help -vs helping without having been asked for, and feeling useless-
- in other words : sitting in the fire with an observer posture, ready to offer help if asked
- antidote for the persecutor :
- asking what is needed to solve the problem, in an assertive posture -vs targeting as a victim, controlling, deciding, taking power over-
- in other words : setting clear boundaries respectful of other’s boundaries
- antidote for the victim :
- « Phase 2 » Once you are yourself out of the game you are available to adopt the most appropriate posture toward the two other players :
- victim role in flight mode : friendly and openly asking them what they would need to solve the problem, reformulate and help to organize their thoughts
- victim role in freeze mode : offering support, recognizing the human skills of the person, and openly asking them what they would need to solve the problem, step by step
- savior role : offering the person recognition for them wanting to help, and offering to step back and hold an observer posture, until eventually being asked for help
- persecutor role : recognizing the person’s action skills and intelligence, asking them to clarify what action they want to take











