American psychiatrist Stephen B. Karpman coined this social model of human interaction in 1968. It describes the roles that we take on in unbalanced social relations. Relations which lead us to take one of three roles within Karpman’s triangle.

These are three roles in Karpman's triangle. These are the victim, the persecutor and the saviour. And the role we take on unconsciously leads someone else to take on one of the others. Let’s take the role of the victim. If I consider myself as a victim, I’m going to tend to blame my hardships on a persecutor, who I consider responsible for my misfortune or pain.

What are the roles in the Karpman triangle then? What’s the point of this whole theory? How does one escape from this infuriating triangle then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the latest episodes, click here:

What can we expect from Lula’s presidency in Brazil?

How did Guy Fawkes become more than just a bonfire effigy?

What is sapiosexuality?

A Bababam Originals podcast written and produced by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices