Breaking the Cycle
The Three Hidden Roles We All Play That Are Keeping The World Stuck in Escalating Conflict
We’re living in chaotic times when tragedy turns quickly into theater.
Something horrific happens—an act of violence, a natural disaster, a cultural rupture—and within hours the storyline sets in: who is the victim, who is the villain, and who will swoop in to save the day. At first, it feels like clarity. But over time, it becomes a trap.
Right now, it feels like every headline is designed to cast villains, victims, and saviors. But when we buy into these roles, we don’t just understand the story—we become trapped inside it. When we try to force nuanced reality into these three roles—Victim, Perpetrator, and Savior—we don’t just tell a story. We get caught inside it and the drama intensifies.
I first heard about this framework—mapped out by Dr. Stephen Karpman in the 1960s as the Drama Triangle—a few years ago, and it resonated. It was originally used in therapy to understand toxic relational dynamics. But now I see it everywhere: in global politics, social media movements, relationships, and in myself.
Once we recognize how this triangle operates, we gain the power to step out of it. That shift changes everything.
The Three Roles We All Play
It’s easy to see these patterns in others, but the truth is: we all cycle through them. Sometimes in the span of a single argument. Sometimes over years. None of the roles are inherently evil. They’re just reactive patterns that form in the absence of awareness and agency.Take a deep breath and read the following descriptions with an open mind. I’m sure you can see these roles in others—but can you see them in your personal life?