🔺Drama Triangle | Free Course
- Jul 31
- 3 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Free Course by Everything IFS Academy
Welcome to the Free Drama Triangle Course for Everyday People
🎧 Audio is read by AI - Helen
In 1968, a psychiatrist named Stephen Karpman noticed something hiding in the fairy tales everyone grows up on, and drew it as a simple triangle. His insight was that when conflict goes sideways, people aren't just clashing; they're moving through a small set of positions, trading places mid-argument, and that rotation is what turns an ordinary disagreement into a drama. The little diagram won the Eric Berne Memorial Scientific Award, escaped the therapy world almost immediately, and is now used in counseling rooms, workplaces, and leadership trainings across the globe. It was built for recognition, never for labeling anyone, and once you've seen the pattern it maps, you'll start spotting it everywhere.
In this course, you'll get to know the three corners of the triangle, the Persecutor, the Rescuer, and the Victim, and discover the humbling truth that everyone visits all three, usually in the same argument. You'll learn to recognize your own favorite entry point, see how the roles rotate mid-conflict, and most importantly, find the exits: the healthier positions that let you step out of the drama without abandoning the people in it. Fair warning: certain family dinners will never look the same again.
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1. Humans design the courses and set the teaching standards and outlines
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Every course is self-paced, with no tests, exams, or homework. Feel free to go through it in order, or jump around to whatever interests you most. Simply click any module below to begin. Enjoy
Course outline
Click any module below to begin.
The Basics What Is the Drama Triangle Who Is Stephen Karpman
The Three Roles The Victim The Rescuer The Persecutor
Beyond the Roles The Switch The Winner's Triangle
Living It Drama Triangle in Everyday Life
Going Deeper The Empowerment Dynamic (TED)
We Hope You Enjoyed The Course
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Disclaimer: Everything IFS Academy is an independent educational platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the IFS Institute. While we strive for accuracy, errors can occur, and users are encouraged to cross-reference critical information. These courses, lessons, skills, and practices are offered for educational and self-reflection purposes only. They do not constitute therapy, mental health treatment, clinical training, or crisis support, and they should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health care. This course is read by Helen - Warm, Balanced and Articulate.
Crisis Support: 🚨 If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, feel unsafe, feel at risk of harming yourself or someone else, or feel too overwhelmed to safely use self-directed practices, please pause this material and reach out for immediate support. Contact a licensed mental health professional, call or text 988 in the U.S. or Canada, or use your local emergency or crisis resources.
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