Escaping the Business Drama Trap
February 24, 2026
“Why the “Victim Triangle” quietly undermines leadership, culture, and performance.”
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Ever notice how many self-declared victims there seem to be in today’s environment? I’m not referring to those facing genuine tragedy. I’m talking about individuals — and we all know at least one — who operate from a chronic posture of victimhood. There is always someone else to blame. The market. The board. The regulator. The partner. The economy. In business, this mindset becomes more than frustrating — it becomes corrosive.
Dr. Paul Friday, in his book Friday’s Laws: How to Become Normal If You’re Not and How to Stay Normal When You Are, discusses what psychology more broadly refers to as the “Drama Triangle,” originally developed by psychiatrist Stephen Karpman. The concept describes a recurring pattern of dysfunctional interaction in which people rotate among three roles: the Victim, who feels powerless; the Persecutor, who criticizes or blames; and the Rescuer, who intervenes in ways that often enable rather than empower. The danger is not merely the behavior — it is the identity. When victimhood becomes part of how someone sees themselves, accountability disappears and growth stalls. In organizations, that dynamic spreads quickly.
We see versions of this cycle everywhere. A manager steps in to “save” a struggling employee and unintentionally reinforces dependency. A regulator enforces policy and is cast as the villain. A leader attempts to correct performance and is labeled oppressive. Roles shift, tensions escalate, and productive energy is replaced with drama. The way out is deceptively simple but personally demanding: replace victimhood with responsibility, replace persecution with clear boundaries, and replace rescuing with support that builds capability. Once you understand the Drama Triangle, you begin to recognize it everywhere — in boardrooms, partnerships, political debates, and yes, even on tonight’s news broadcast.
In a business environment this can become an unbelievably difficult situation to deal with.
Dr. Paul Friday’s book: Friday’s Laws
The Drama Triangle is a concept in psychology that describes a cycle of conflict and dysfunctional interaction where people take on one of three roles:
1. Victim: Feels powerless & helpless. They often believe they have no control over their circumstances.
2. Persecutor: Blames, criticizes, or oppresses others, keeping the victim in a powerless state.
3. Rescuer: Tries to save the victim, but in doing so, enables their helplessness instead of empowering.
