How are emotional triangles hurtful?

A triangle might occur between 3 people (for example 2 parents and their child), or between two people and a third element (like work or illness). The trouble is, adding a third point (usually unknowingly) stops you from actually addressing relationship problems head on.
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What are emotional triangles?

A triangle is a three-person relationship system. It is considered the building block or “molecule” of larger emotional systems because a triangle is the smallest stable relationship system. A two-person system is unstable because it tolerates little tension before involving a third person.
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Why do people engage in triangulation?

Triangulation occurs when an outside person intervenes or is drawn into a conflicted or stressful relationship in an attempt to ease tension and facilitate communication. This situation is often seen in family therapy.
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How do you avoid triangulation in a relationship?

It can be difficult to avoid triangulation, but try to involve as few people as possible. When you confront someone, make sure no people are around or between you and the other person. If the individual tells you that other people believe them, don't try to talk to those people.
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What does triangulate mean in psychology?

Triangulation, a form of manipulation, describes a person's use of threats of exclusion or manipulation. The goal is to divide and conquer. It involves the use of indirect communication, often behind someone's back. In the list of toxic behaviors, triangulation may be the most well-known. 1.
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What Is an Emotional Triangle



What is toxic triangulation?

Toxic triangulation occurs when a partner in a relationship is devalued through the words or actions of the narcissist so that the partner will draw closer and continue to feed them with praise and attention.
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How does a narcissist react when they can't control you?

Narcissists also gaslight or practice master manipulation, weakening and destabilizing their victims; finally, they utilize positive and negative emotions or moments to trick others. When a narcissist can't control you, they'll likely feel threatened, react with anger, and they might even start threatening you.
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What are the 4 types of triangulation?

Among experts in triangulation in the social sciences, there contin- ues to be a general consensus on the usefulness of the four types of triangulation originally identified by Denzin in the 1970s: (1) data triangulation; (2) investigator triangulation; (3) theory triangulation; and (4) methodological or method ...
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Is triangulation passive-aggressive?

Triangulation often shows up in workplace interactions or friend group dynamics, since it offers a passive-aggressive way for someone to undermine a potential rival and regain control over social situations.
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How do you break triangulation?

Set some ground rules, including:
  1. The feedback should avoid evaluative statements and focus on descriptions of the other person's behavior. ...
  2. Each person should be curious as to why the other sees things the way they do. ...
  3. The two people involved should talk to each other and not to the facilitator.
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What type of person uses triangulation?

Triangulation is when a toxic or manipulative person, often a person with strong narcissistic traits, brings a third person into their relationship in order to remain in control. There will be limited or no communication between the two triangulated individuals except through the manipulator.
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How do you react to narcissistic triangulation?

The best defense against triangulation is to never get involved with it. Walk away as soon as you see it happening and let the narcissist know that you don't want to be part of their games.
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How do you survive a narcissistic triangulation?

Strengthen Your Own Supports. Narcissistic triangulation can severely impact your own self-esteem and emotional well being. Making sure you have your own support outside of this person is crucial in being able to navigate this situation and to stay emotionally and mentally healthy.
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How are emotional triangles formed?

Typically, a triangle will emerge during times of change or stress by shifting attention to someone or something else as a way to stabilize a shaky relationship. Triangles aren't always bad, but they can distract you from dealing with relationship issues in a healthy and direct way if you're not careful.
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What is the triangle effect?

The Triangle effect

Hypothesis 1 predicted that with respect to relationship between a player's own choice and. his expectation of the other's move, the expectations of 'trusting' Ss about 'typical other' would be more evenly distributed as compared with the expectations of the 'suspicious' Ss.
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What emotion motivates emotional triangles?

Bowen's theory “postulates the triangle as the molecule of any emotional system and the total system as a network of inter- locking triangles” (Bowen, 1988, p. 216). Anxiety, the compelling factor in much of Bowen's theory, is seen as what motivates people to participate in a triangle.
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Is triangulation a gossip?

Sometimes triangulation is unintentional, which is more passive on the spectrum. Unintentional triangulation can show up as gossip, venting, or complaining. The complainer might not be trying to harm the other person, but may lack insight, skills, or awareness.
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Is past events in a person's life are the focus of triangulation?

Past events in a person's life are the focus of triangulation. Data are collected through statistical analysis. The goal is to understand. Generalizability is not claimed.
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How do you use triangulation?

In a few words, triangulation is using two or three landmarks in the terrain as reference points from which you can determine your location.
...
  1. Step 1: identify features in the terrain. ...
  2. Step 2: orient your map. ...
  3. Step 3: get bearings on each of your landmarks or features. ...
  4. Step 4: transfer your bearing to your map. ...
  5. Step 5: repeat.
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What is triangular method?

A method of ore reserve estimation based on the assumption that a linear relationship exists between grade difference and the distance between all drill holes.
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What happens when a narcissist knows you figured them out?

When a narcissist is exposed or when the narcissist knows you have figured him out, they will never admit the truth even if it is staring them in the face. A narcissist will lay several false accusations and try to make him right. They will say things you didn't utter and misinterpret all your intentions.
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How do you make a narcissist miserable?

14 Ways to Make a Narcissist Miserable:
  1. Lack of Attention.
  2. Doing something they don't like.
  3. Losing.
  4. Logic and Facts.
  5. Boundaries.
  6. Critical Thinking.
  7. Spontaneous Behavior.
  8. Someone else's Success.
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What kind of woman do narcissists like?

In fact, narcissists are often attracted to strong, confident, and self-assured women. While this may seem counterintuitive, it is important to realize that the narcissistic traits of grandiosity and confidence are really a mask for deep insecurity.
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Is triangulation emotional abuse?

Triangulation is considered a form of emotional abuse that can occur in any relationship. Your covert narcissistic partner may pull in a third person into your toxic relationship to create conflicts between the two of you so they can manipulate and take advantage of you.
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Why do narcissist try to triangulate?

Why do people with NPD use triangulation? People who have narcissistic personality disorder frequently use triangulation to enhance their feelings of superiority, raise their self-esteem, devalue other people, and keep potential competitors off-balance.
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