Breaking the Drama Triangle in Nonprofit Workplaces

We recently learned of the passing of Murray Levine, a Bay Area psychologist who trained many clinicians and mental health leaders in San Francisco. Belinda had the privilege of learning from Murray early in her career when she was a counselor supporting people with psychiatric disabilities to stabilize into supportive housing at Conard House in San Francisco. In one training, Murray taught about the drama triangle, which Belinda has thought about many times in her career.  

In a drama triangle, one gets caught in a cycle of casting people in the roles of victim, persecutor, and rescuer. The drama triangle is characterized by blame, wanting to be right, fear, and adrenaline. This 3-minute video explains the drama triangle and how to break it and shift perspective to avoid getting stuck in it. We can break the drama triangle by shifting our thinking so that persecutors become challengers, victims become creators, and rescuers become coaches.

We share this resource with you today because, especially for those of us doing social change work, if we’re not mindful of it, our strong values, commitment to social justice, and lived experience can make us vulnerable to falling into a drama triangle frame of mind. Next time you see a drama triangle dynamic, consider reflecting upon the dynamic and openly discussing it with colleagues. Explore opportunities to shift perspectives and develop roles as challengers, creators, and coaches.