What does triangulate mean in psychology?

What Is 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.


What is triangulation narcissism?

What is Narcissist's Triangulation. 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.

What does it mean to triangulate in psychology?

Triangulation happens when one or both of the people involved in the conflict try to pull a third person into the dynamic, often with the goal of: deflecting some of the tension. creating another conflict to take the spotlight off the original issue. reinforcing their sense of rightness or superiority.


What is an example of triangulation?

For example, a relationship between two siblings can be triangulated by a parent when the siblings disagree, and a relationship between a couple can be triangulated when one partner relies on a child or parent for support and communication with the other partner.

What does it mean to triangulate?

triangulated; triangulating. transitive verb. : to survey, map, or determine by triangulation. : to divide into triangles. : to give triangular form to.


Are You Being Triangulated? (A Common Manipulation Technique in Relationships) - Teal Swan



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 ...

What are some common phrases narcissists use when triangulating?

7 Gaslighting Phrases Malignant Narcissists, Sociopaths and Psychopaths Use To Silence You, Translated
  • You're crazy/you have mental health issues/you need help. ...
  • You're just insecure and jealous. ...
  • You're too sensitive/you're overreacting. ...
  • It was just a joke. ...
  • You need to let it go. ...
  • You're the problem here, not me.


Is triangulation a form of abuse?

This is also referred to as “Toxic Triangulation” which is one form of mental abuse. People who use this tactic will often charm their way into relationships that pre-exist between their partner and those who are directly involved in their life.


What are three forms of triangulation?

Types of triangulation in research
  • Data triangulation: Using data from different times, spaces, and people.
  • Investigator triangulation: Involving multiple researchers in collecting or analyzing data.
  • Theory triangulation: Using varying theoretical perspectives in your research.


What is triangulation approach?

Triangulation refers to the use of multiple methods or data sources in qualitative research to develop a comprehensive understanding of phenomena (Patton, 1999). Triangulation also has been viewed as a qualitative research strategy to test validity through the convergence of information from different sources.

Why do borderlines triangulate?

Someone with BPD may use triangulation to receive reassurance and avoid feelings of abandonment. They may do this by manipulating someone else to feel jealous, thereby proving their love and commitment to them.


Is triangulation a form of manipulation?

Triangulation is a form of manipulation and is used to exploit an interaction between two people who are not communicating directly. It is problematic due to a third person becoming intertwined in a situation that should be between the two individuals participating in the conflict.

Do non narcissists triangulate?

Anyone can use triangulation, not just people with a narcissistic personality disorder. You can see children and adolescents do it in school and on playdates in particularly obvious and hurtful ways. Example: 12-year-old Sara has two friends, Betty and Lindsey.

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.


Why do people triangulate?

The goal of triangulation is to divide people within the argument and to tip the scales of the argument. Often this is done with indirect communication, with the third person being the go-between of the two people who are initially disagreeing. People often use triangulation to: Distract from the real issue or argument.

Is triangulation a gossip?

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. And then there's intentional triangulation, which is definitely passive-aggressive but more aggressive on the spectrum.

What is triangulation flirting?

Triangulation is a manipulation technique where a narcissist will bring another person into a relationship to force someone to compete for their attention. The name triangulation implies that three people will be involved in this dynamic.


What happens during triangulation?

Triangulation is a type of survey which starts at a baseline joining two positions with a known distance and grows by adding sides to form a triangle, measuring the angles formed – always exceeding 20° – and shaping a network of connected triangles whose sides have 'calculated' distances.

Who is most associated with triangulation?

Triangulation is a term in psychology most closely associated with the work of Murray Bowen known as family therapy. Bowen theorized that a two-person emotional system is unstable, in that under stress it forms itself into a three-person system or triangle.

How do you respond to a narcissist triangulation?

Step Away

As with most things involving narcissists, the best thing you can do is cut off contact with them. Triangulation only works when there are three parties; if you step away, the triangle fails.


How do you make a narcissist miserable?

How to Make a Narcissist Miserable: 12 Things They Can't Stand
  1. Ignore them.
  2. Act indifferent toward them.
  3. Tell them how happy you are.
  4. Speak in facts, not emotions.
  5. Set boundaries and stick to them.
  6. Tell them no.
  7. Give them an ultimatum for commitment.
  8. Push them to answer to authority.


What are some text habits of a narcissist?

In this case, you might expect examples of narcissist text messages such as “I'm in the hospital, but I'm ok now,” “I can't feel my arm, but I don't think I should worry, should I?”, “I've had some bad news, but there's nothing you can do about it.”

What are red flags for a narc?

Lacking compassion or a severe lack of empathy for others. Love bombing. An inability to maintain connections, such as with friends, colleagues and family members. Fragile ego.


What to say to a narcissist to disarm them?

The following are 16 key phrases to disarm a narcissist:
  • 1. “ ...
  • “I Can't Control How You Feel About Me” ...
  • “I Hear What You're Saying” ...
  • “I'm Sorry You Feel That Way” ...
  • “Everything Is Okay” ...
  • “We Both Have a Right to Our Own Opinions” ...
  • “I Can Accept How You Feel” ...
  • “I Don't Like How You're Speaking to Me so I Will not Engage”
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