Every recurring conflict has a shape. In the late 1960s, psychiatrist Stephen Karpman mapped that shape as a triangle with three positions: the Victim, the Rescuer, and the Persecutor. These are not personality types. They are positions we step into when stress hits, and most of us have a default entry point we learned long before we could name it. Once you're on the triangle, the drama runs you, and the same fights, resentments, and rescues repeat on a loop. This assessment identifies where you enter the triangle, and what it costs you to stay there.
You will answer 18 short questions. There are no right or wrong answers; respond with the first answer that feels true, not the one that sounds best.
This assessment is for self-reflection and education. It is not a diagnostic tool or a substitute for therapy.
Question 1 of 180%
When conflict or stress shows up in my relationships...
How true is this for you?
Your entry point
Your full breakdown
Everyone rotates through all three positions. Your breakdown shows where you enter the triangle most often, and which corners you visit once the drama is moving.
The triangle only has three corners, but it isn't a cage. Every position has an exit. In The Power of TED, David Emerald mapped the way out: Victims become Creators, Rescuers become Coaches, Persecutors become Challengers. The first step is the one you just took, seeing your entry point.
To go deeper, explore the full resource library at Distinctive Voice Publishing.
Based on the Drama Triangle developed by Stephen B. Karpman, M.D., and The Empowerment Dynamic developed by David Emerald. This assessment is an original educational tool from Distinctive Voice Publishing and is not affiliated with or endorsed by either author.