Karpman Drama Triangle Test

Understand your go-to conflict role in about 4 minutes, whether you feel powerless, push back, or overhelp. Get quick, practical insight to set healthier boundaries and reduce tension in tough conversations.

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Questions: 184 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

12,126 views

1,261 completion

979 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

3/7

Persecutor (P)

Measures how strongly you tend to respond in conflict situations with criticizing, blaming, or dominating behavior associated with the Persecutor role.

Low

Moderate

High

1 – 3: Low | 4 – 5: Moderate | 6 – 7: High

A score of 3 falls in the Low range, suggesting you generally show relatively little persecuting behavior such as harsh criticism or pressure in recent interactions.

example score

5/7

Rescuer (R)

Measures how strongly a person tends to take a helping-or-fixing role in conflict situations, sometimes beyond what is requested or appropriate.

Low

Moderate

High

1 – 2: Low | 3 – 5: Moderate | 6 – 7: High

A score of 5 indicates a moderate tendency to step into a Rescuer role, often offering help readily and sometimes at the cost of clear boundaries.

example score

3/7

Victim (V)

Measures how strongly you tend to adopt a helpless, oppressed stance in conflict situations and shift responsibility to others.

Low

Moderate

High

1 – 3: Low | 4 – 5: Moderate | 6 – 7: High

A score of 3 falls in the Low range, suggesting you generally show limited tendency to respond from a helpless or dependent position in recent interactions.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Stuck in recurring conflict

41%OF USERS

People who notice the same arguments and emotional blowups repeating in a relationship, friendship, or family and want to see what role they fall into.

Helpers who feel drained

34%OF USERS

Those who often step in to fix others’ problems, then end up resentful or exhausted, and want to understand their rescuing patterns and boundaries.

Coaches and therapy clients

25%OF USERS

People doing personal development work who want a quick, structured way to map their reactions in tense interactions for discussion in sessions.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale are translated into plain, usable insights. You won’t just get numbers — you’ll learn how your results impact your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.

Practical
Recommendations

You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Powered
Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

Discuss with
an AI Therapist

Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

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Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Persecutor (P)

Average

4.3

Normal range

3.3 — 5.4

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Rescuer (R)

Average

3.3

Normal range

2.4 — 4.3

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Victim (V)

Average

4.7

Normal range

3.7 — 5.8

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It screens for common role patterns that can appear during interpersonal conflict. It estimates the relative prominence of three roles: vulnerable/overwhelmed, critical/pressuring, and overhelping/controlling.

How should items be answered?

Rate each statement based on typical behavior in recent interaction situations. Use the first response that fits, without overanalyzing exceptions.

What time period should be considered when responding?

Use recent weeks or the most recent relevant conflicts as the reference period. If there is no recent example, answer based on the usual pattern in similar situations.

How should the results be interpreted?

Scores indicate tendencies, not fixed traits or diagnoses. Results are best used as discussion guides for communication patterns and boundaries.

Is this questionnaire scientifically established?

The underlying model is widely used as a practical framework but is not a firmly validated theory. The questionnaire can still provide structured, interpretable indicators of conflict-related role tendencies.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Karpman Drama Triangle Test - Symptoms and Signs

transactional analysis karpman triangle

This questionnaire is designed to screen interpersonal role patterns commonly described in the Karpman Drama Triangle. It samples typical responses to conflict and relational tension using 18 items and takes about 4 minutes to complete.

Item content reflects the three role positions emphasized in the model (e.g., victim, persecutor/critic, and rescuer/caretaker), with results intended to support self-reflection and clinical discussion rather than serve as a diagnostic indicator. Findings may be useful for identifying recurrent interaction cycles and treatment targets in individual, couples, or group work. As noted by psytests.org (2023), the Karpman Drama Triangle is best understood as a conceptual framework; scores should be interpreted cautiously and integrated with collateral information and clinical judgment.

Author: psytests.org (2023)

Literature: Lac, A., & Donaldson, C. D. Development and validation of the drama triangle scale: Are you a victim, rescuer, or persecutor? Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 2020.

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