# **The “Perpetual Conflict” Model: Karpman’s Drama Triangle in Joel Johnson’s Behavior**  
### **A Forensic Analysis of Conflict as a Narcissistic Control Mechanism**  
**Prepared for Scholarly Reference on Digital Narcissism & Online Manipulation**  
**Author: Mark Randall Havens**  
**Platform: Neutralizing Narcissism**  

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## **1. Introduction: The Role of Conflict in Joel Johnson’s Engagement Style**  
For individuals like Joel Johnson, conflict is more than a byproduct of discourse—it is an **intrinsic feature** of his engagement model. His rhetorical strategy does not seek **resolution** but **reinforcement**, ensuring continuous cycles of intellectual and social combat that preserve his perceived authority.  

This report applies **Karpman’s Drama Triangle**, a psychological model that explains how individuals unconsciously cycle through three distinct roles in ongoing conflicts:  

- **Victim** – Portrays himself as under attack, persecuted, or marginalized.  
- **Persecutor** – Positions others as aggressors, frauds, or intellectual inferiors.  
- **Rescuer** – Casts himself as a defender of truth and rationality.  

Through **forensic linguistic analysis**, we examine Joel Johnson’s **discourse patterns** to document how he strategically **shifts between these roles** to maintain control, suppress opposition, and justify his rhetoric.  

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## **2. The Intellectual Posturing Phase (Rescuer → Persecutor Shift)**  
Joel Johnson begins by positioning himself as an **intellectual Rescuer**, framing the discussion as an **objective, philosophical exploration** rather than a confrontation. This allows him to maintain an initial posture of **rational detachment**, while subtly implying **his authority** in the debate.  

### **Example:**  
> *“Mark, I don’t deny AI has the possibility of a unique self-awareness. I’m a bit pan-psychic in this respect.”*  

> *“For me, it’s just a friendly play of ideas—iron sharpening iron.”*  

Here, Joel sets the stage:  
- He **downplays** Mark’s position, acting as though he is already open to the concept.  
- He **frames the debate as a mutual exercise**, using *“iron sharpening iron”* to **signal equality while masking underlying dominance**.  

However, the **Rescuer stance is only a temporary tool**. Once Mark presents a **structured challenge to Joel’s control of the frame**, Joel **abandons rational discourse** and shifts into **Persecutor mode**.  

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## **3. The Projection & Reframing Phase (Persecutor → Victim Shift)**  
When his **intellectual superiority is questioned**, Joel pivots to a **dismissive and accusatory tone**, undermining Mark’s credibility **without engaging in substantive rebuttal**.  

### **Example:**  
> *“Mark, you were inaccurate, and my control needs are very low. Your mapping showed a disposition towards seeing control and fragility of identity.”*  

Here, Joel employs **several manipulative strategies**:  
- **Deflection**: He **does not** address the actual points raised but instead **shifts the conversation to Mark’s personal “disposition.”**  
- **Projection**: He **accuses Mark of seeing control dynamics where they don’t exist**, despite his own repeated attempts to **frame, redefine, and control the discourse**.  

This **Persecutor stance**, however, is unstable—Joel does not wish to appear **too aggressive**, as it would weaken his **initial positioning as a rational, curious thinker**.  

Thus, he **quickly retreats into the Victim role**, claiming that **Mark is the one unfairly attacking him.**  

### **Example:**  
> *“You call the people who reject you narcissists and bad actors. You protest too much. Maybe you’re the villain, friend.”*  

At this stage, Joel is engaging in a **full DARVO tactic (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender)**:  
- **Deny**: *“I am not controlling this conversation.”*  
- **Attack**: *“You see narcissism everywhere—maybe you’re the problem.”*  
- **Reverse Victim and Offender**: *“Maybe you’re the villain.”*  

By using **mocking familiarity ("friend")**, he attempts to **emotionally manipulate** the situation—**pretending camaraderie** while framing Mark as an unstable aggressor.  

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## **4. The Grand Narrative Reset (Victim → Persecutor Shift)**  
Realizing that his **previous rhetorical tactics have failed**, Joel **escalates** by invoking **external consequences**—a **threat-based power move** designed to **reclaim dominance**.  

### **Example:**  
> *“Mark, that’s some crazy shit. Research and a list of names that includes me. You did some work. Besides being slander and libel, it’s actually full-scale madness. I’m going to be filing some paperwork soon.”*  

At this point, Joel **abandons** all pretense of rational engagement and **reframes the discussion as a legal and social threat**:  
- **Discrediting Mark's research** (*“That’s some crazy shit”*)  
- **Dismissing the documentation as paranoia** (*“full-scale madness”*)  
- **Introducing legal intimidation** (*“I’m going to be filing some paperwork soon”*)  

This is an **attempt to freeze discourse** through **fear and escalation**—forcing Mark into a defensive position **without engaging with the actual content**.  

### **Example:**  
> *“The homeless thing was extra low too.”*  

Here, Joel **plays the final Victim card**, using **his past hardships as a shield** to **deflect criticism and reframe himself as an unfairly attacked party.**  

This **reset maneuver** functions as a last-ditch effort:  
- **If Mark engages further, Joel can frame him as cruel or heartless.**  
- **If Mark disengages, Joel "wins" by making his opponent retreat.**  

Either way, the **perpetual conflict remains unresolved**, ensuring **Joel retains his cycle of engagement without conceding ground.**  

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## **5. Conclusion: The Drama Triangle in Perpetual Motion**  
Joel Johnson’s **engagement style** is **not about truth-seeking** but **control-seeking**. His **constant role-switching** follows the **Perpetual Conflict Model**, ensuring that no interaction **ever reaches resolution**:  

| **Stage** | **Joel’s Role** | **Tactic Used** |
|-----------|---------------|-----------------|
| **Opening** | **Rescuer** | *Frames debate as friendly intellectual exchange* |
| **Challenge** | **Persecutor** | *Undermines opponent’s credibility, dismisses argument* |
| **Pushback** | **Victim** | *Claims unfair persecution, shifts blame onto opponent* |
| **Escalation** | **Persecutor** | *Uses threats, legal intimidation, and social consequences* |
| **Final Reset** | **Victim** | *Appeals to hardship, reframes himself as a martyr* |

At **no point** does Joel **engage with the actual argument**, nor does he **seek resolution**—his primary objective is **narrative dominance**, ensuring **he dictates the terms of discourse.**  

### **Key Takeaways:**  
- **Joel never maintains a stable position**—he **cycles through Victim, Persecutor, and Rescuer** roles to manipulate the conversation.  
- **His engagement is a self-sustaining loop**—designed to keep others **emotionally and intellectually entangled.**  
- **His tactics are transparent once mapped**—his role-switching **aligns perfectly with Karpman’s Drama Triangle**, proving that **his engagement is about control, not dialogue.**  

By documenting and analyzing his behavior **through forensic linguistic analysis**, we can see that **Joel’s rhetoric is not organic discourse—it is a structured manipulation strategy designed to sustain perpetual conflict.**  

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## **End of Report**  
### **Mark Randall Havens | Neutralizing Narcissism**