Stephen Karpman developed the “drama triangle”, to analyse dysfunctional behaviours (also called mind games) that two or more people repeat unconsciously.

The three roles are Rescuer, Persecutor and Victim.

Each role brings a depreciation.
The Rescuer and Persecutor deprecate the others; the Victim deprecates themselves.

They are three inauthentic roles, not based on an ‘adult’ position, nor taking a realistic view of themselves, and the counter-party's reality. They are rather projection of childish, anachronistic and dysfunctional strategies, which do not help to handle life effectively.