The Trauma Triangle

The Trauma Triangle (or Drama Triangle in interactions with less emotional charge) is a dynamic that many couples experience, and can easily become locked into. The triangle consists of three roles: Victim, Perpetrator and Rescuer. These roles are often unconsciously assigned. An individual who feels vulnerable, hurt or wronged will look to their partner for emotional soothing, and if that soothing isn’t provided, the partners is viewed as a perpetrator of further hurt. For some couples one or two key topics are the catalyst for this dynamic such money, division of responsibilities or intimacy. For other couples who have been struggling in their connection for some time, this triangle dynamic can live in almost every moment of their relationship. In this episode, you’ll learn more about how this triangle shows up, the costs of staying locked in it, and what the goal is for couples who are experiencing it.