(as read during the presentation of the award on August 24, 2024)
Back in 1968, Dr. Stephen Karpman published an article titled “Fairy Tales and Script Drama Analysis.”
Stephen’s interest in acting, being a member of the Screen Actors Guild, played a big part in shaping his ideas that connected psychology with the world of storytelling and scripts.
In recognition of his groundbreaking work on the Karpman Drama Triangle, Stephen was awarded the Eric Berne Memorial Scientific Award in 1972. This award was well-deserved and highlighted the significant impact his ideas have had on the field. Today his work on this and other Triangle variations has a multiple screen entry in Wikipedia that is translated into 16 languages.
But Steve didn’t just contribute ideas—a few of you might remember how he led the vaudeville finales to ITAA conferences, pulling long-winded presenters off the stage with a shepherd’s crook.
Stephen’s creativity didn’t stop with his academic work. In 2014, he authored A Game Free Life, a book that provides practical advice on living more authentically.
On top of all this, Stephen is a prolific artist. He’s even sold many of his paintings to support the USATAA and ITAA.
Today, we’re celebrating Steve’s lifetime of creativity, service, and impact with the NATAA M&M Award.*
*The M&M Award is so named in honor of its originators, Muriel James and Mary Goulding.
