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Triangulation (psychology)

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Triangulation is a manipulation tactic where one person will not communicate directly with another person, instead using a third person to relay communication to the second, thus forming a triangle. It also refers to a form of splitting in which one person manipulates a relationship between two parties by controlling communication between them.

Triangulation may manifest itself as a manipulative device to engineer rivalry between two people, known as divide and conquer[1] or playing one (person) against another.[2]

Child development

In the field of psychology, triangulations are necessary steps in the child's development when a two-party relationship is opened up by a third party into a new form of relationship. So the child gains new mental abilities. The concept was introduced in 1971, by the Swiss psychiatrist Dr. Ernest L. Abelin, especially as 'early triangulation', to describe the transitions in psychoanalytic object relations theory and parent-child relationship in the age of 18 months. In this presentation, the mother is the early caregiver with a nearly "symbiotic" relationship to the child, and the father lures the child away to the outside world, resulting in the father being the third party.[3] Abelin later developed an 'organizer- and triangulation-model',[4] in which he based the whole human mental and psychic development on several steps of triangulation.

Some earlier related work, published in a 1951 paper, had been done by the German psychoanalyst Hans Loewald in the area of pre-Oedipal behavior and dynamics.[5] In a 1978 paper, the child psychoanalyst Dr. Selma Kramer wrote that Loewald postulated the role of the father as a positive supporting force for the pre-Oedipal child against the threat of reengulfment by the mother which leads to an early identification with the father, preceding that of the classical Oedipus complex.[6] This was also related to the work in Separation-Individuation theory of child development by the psychoanalyst Margaret Mahler.[6][7][8]

Narcissism

In the context of narcissism, triangulation occurs when the narcissist attempts to control the flow, interpretation, and nuances of communication between two separate actors or groups of actors. Ensuring communications flow through, and constantly relate back to the narcissist provides a feeling of importance. Common scenarios include a parent attempting to control communication between two children, or an emotionally abusive partner attempting to control communication between the other partner and the other partner's friends and family. A narcissistic person wants to ensure the other actors communicate through them but remain otherwise isolated. In some cases narcissists will use control of communication to drive a wedge between the other parties. This can be done by falsely making one of the actors or groups of actors into a scapegoat for problems that the narcissist is actually responsible for or that are otherwise unrelated. In addition the narcissist may falsely credit the other actor with saying or thinking something hurtful, or may put too much emphasis on an aspect of something that was said to them that ignores the wider context.[9]

Alternatively, the narcissist may attempt to use triangulation to put a third actor between them and someone with whom they are commonly in conflict. Rather than communicating directly with the actor with whom they are in conflict, the narcissist will send communication supporting his or her case through a third actor in an attempt to make the communication more credible.[10]

Family

In family therapy, the term triangulation is most closely associated with the work of Murray Bowen. Bowen theorized that a two-person emotional system is unstable, in that under stress it forms itself into a three-person system or triangle.[11]

In the family triangulation system the third person can either be used as a substitute for the direct communication, or can be used as a messenger to carry the communication to the main party. Usually this communication is an expressed dissatisfaction with the main party. For example, in a dysfunctional family in which there is alcoholism present, the non-drinking parent will go to a child and express dissatisfaction with the drinking parent. This includes the child in the discussion of how to solve the problem of the alcoholic parent. Sometimes the child can engage in the relationship with the parent, filling the role of the third party, and thereby being "triangulated" into the relationship. Alternatively, the child may then go to the alcoholic parent, relaying what they were told. In instances when this occurs, the child may be forced into a role of a "surrogate spouse" The reason that this occurs is that both parties are dysfunctional. Rather than communicating directly with each other, they utilize a third party. Sometimes this is because it is unsafe to go directly to the person and discuss the concerns, particularly if they are alcoholic and/or abusive.

In a triangular family relationship, the two who have aligned risk forming an enmeshed relationship.[12]

The Perverse Triangle

The Perverse Triangle was first described in 1977 by Jay Haley[13] as a triangle where two people who are on different hierarchical or generational levels form a coalition against a third person (e.g., "a covert alliance between a parent and a child, who band together to undermine the other parent's power and authority".[14]) The perverse triangle concept has been widely discussed in professional literature.[15][16][17][18][19][20][21] Bowen called it the pathological triangle,[20] while Minuchin called it the rigid triangle.[22]

Cross-generational coalition

For example, a parent and child can align against the other parent but not admit to it, to form a cross-generational coalition.[23] These are harmful to children.[15][19][24]

See also

References

  1. ^ Triangulation / Divide & Conquer
  2. ^ Cloud H, Townsend J (2009) Boundaries with Kids: When to Say Yes, How to Say No
  3. ^ Abelin, Ernst (1971), "The role of the father in the separation-individuation process", in McDevitt, John B.; Settlage, Calvin F. (eds.), Separation-individuation: essays in honor of Margaret S. Mahler, New York: International Universities Press, pp. 229–252, ISBN 9780823660650. {{citation}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  4. ^ Abelin, Ernst. "The organizer and triangulation model (abbreviated: The O&T-Model)". organizer-model.org. Organizer Model.
  5. ^ Loewald, Hans W. (1951). "Ego and reality". The International Journal of Psychoanalysis. 32. Wiley-Blackwell for the International Psychoanalytical Association: 10–18. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  6. ^ a b Kramer, Selma; Prall, Robert C. (February 1978). "The role of the father in the preoedipal". Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association. 26 (1): 143–161. doi:10.1177/000306517802600108. PMID 632531. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help) Also available here.
  7. ^ Mahler, Margaret S. (October 1967). "On human symbiosis and the vicissitudes of individuation". Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association. 15 (4): 740–763. doi:10.1177/000306516701500401. PMID 4170516. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help) Also available here.
  8. ^ Mahler, Margaret S. (1963). "Thoughts about development and individuation". The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child. 18: 307–324. doi:10.1080/00797308.1963.11822933. PMID 14147283. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
    Abstract also printed as: Mahler, Margaret S. (1975), "334. MAHLER, MARGARET SCHOENBERGER. Thoughts about development and individuation. 18:307-324, 1963", in Eissler, Ruth S. (ed.), The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, volumes 1-25: abstracts and index, New Haven: Yale University Press, p. 222. {{citation}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help) Preview.
  9. ^ Morrigan, Danu You're Not Crazy - It's Your Mother: Understanding and Healing for Daughters of Narcissistic Mothers
  10. ^ Bailey-Rug C (2014) It's All About ME! The Facts About Maternal Narcissism
  11. ^ Bowen, Murray (1985), "On the differentiation of self (1972)", in Bowen, Murray (ed.), Family therapy in clinical practice, Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., p. 478, ISBN 9780876687611. {{citation}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  12. ^ "How triangulation in family relationships can lead to love triangles". psychotherapist-nyc.blogspot.com. NYC Therapist. 2010-11-06. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  13. ^ Watzlawick, Paul; Weakland, John H. (1977). The Interactional View. Studies at the Mental Research Institute, Palo Alto: W. W. Norton & Co. ISBN 9780393333305.
  14. ^ Scarf, Maggie. Intimate Partners, The Atlantic, Nov 1986, accessed 04 October 2016
  15. ^ a b "peverse triangle (definition)". behavenet.com. Behavenet. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  16. ^ Hoffman, Lynn (1981). Foundations of family therapy: a conceptual framework for systems change. Basic Books. ISBN 9780876687611. Details.
  17. ^ Staff writer (1995-05-10), "perverse triangles (definition)", in Miermont, Jacques (ed.), The dictionary of family therapy, Blackwell, ISBN 9780631170488 Available online.
  18. ^ Scarf, Maggie (November 1986). "Intimate partners". The Atlantic. Atlantic Media. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  19. ^ a b Gottlieb, Linda J. (2012). The parental alienation syndrome: a family therapy and collaborative systems approach to amelioration. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas Publisher Ltd. pp. 4, 87, 180, 214, 222, 249, 254, 258, 259. ISBN 9780398087364. Preview.
  20. ^ a b Baker, Amy J. L.; Sauber, S. Richard (2013). Working with alienated families: a clinical guidebook. New York London: Routledge. pp. 200, 230, 238. ISBN 9780415518031. Preview.
  21. ^ Childress, Craig A. (2015), "Family transitions", in Childress, Craig A. (ed.), An attachment-based model of parental alienation: foundations, Claremont, California: Oaksong Press, p. 33, ISBN 9780996114509. {{citation}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  22. ^ Minuchin, Salvador (1974), "Therapeutic implications of a structural approach", in Minuchin, Salvador (ed.), Families and family therapy (1st ed.), Harvard University Press, p. 102, ISBN 9780674292369. {{citation}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  23. ^ Adams, Jerome (2014), "Milan systemic therapy: glossary", in Wetchler, Joseph L.; Hecker, Lorna L. (eds.), An introduction to marriage and family therapy, Oxford New York: Routledge, p. 143, ISBN 9780415719506. {{citation}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help) Preview.
  24. ^ Kerig, Patricia (October 2005). "Revisiting the construct of boundary dissolution revisiting the construct of boundary dissolution". Journal of Emotional Abuse. 5 (2–3): 5–42. doi:10.1300/J135v05n02_02. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

Further reading

  • Ernst Abelin (1975): Some further observations and comments on the earliest role of the father. Internat. J. Psycho-Anal. 56:293-302
  • Ernst Abelin (1980): Triangulation, the Role of the Father and the Origins of Core Gender Identity during the Rapprochement Subphase. In: Rapprochement, ed. R. Lax, S. Bach and J. Burland. New York: Jason Aronson, S. 151-169.
  • Ernst Abelin (1986): Die Theorie der frühkindlichen Triangulation. Von der Psychologie zur Psychoanalyse. In: Das Vaterbild in Kontinuität und Wandel. ed. J. Stork. Stuttgart: Fromann-Holzboog, S. 45-72.
  • Actual thoughts on early triangulation by Ernst Abelin: http://www.organizer-model.org
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