SCHEMA THERAPY PSYCHOEDUCATION
Cognitive therapy calls for an examination of the
meanings we attach to the people, places, and
things in our lives. Biased assumptions are often connected to our negative emotional experiences
and self-defeating patterns of behavior. Part of the focus in therapy is focusing on ideas, beliefs,
and predictions, replacing those distorted thoughts that have been embedded in his/her mind in
regard to the self, others, and the future. Emphasis is placed on paying attention to self-talk and
testing the reality of often biased inner dialogues.
Young's Schema Therapy proposes eighteen early maladaptive schemas that show up in adulthood
as dysfunctional life themes. They are also referred to as "buttons" or "life traps." They are considered
early maladaptive schemas because they are derived from distressing childhood and adolescent
experiences where fundamental needs are not adequately met, thus interfering with healthy and
stable development.
Schemas are comprised of beliefs, or cognitions. They also involve emotional
and bodily sensations, along with biological elements, such as temperament. Temperament refers
to the inherent character of the child.
Schemas are held within the mind and reflect some of the realities of the person's childhood; these
"truths" become difficult to refute, in that they are the abiding content of the schema. They are
often connected with painful childhood memories, discreetly sheltered within the brain. They
emerge outside of awareness and therefore aren't based on present, here-and-now events.
When schemas are activated, the effects are similar to the triggering of traumatic memories. The
emotional and physical circuits of the brain and body often disconnect from the executive or
decision-making areas of the brain, which are responsible for distinguishing between events in the
here and now versus the "there and then." The release of stress hormones when schemas are
triggered short-circuits the executive areas of the brain, which usually allow for accuracy in
reasoning and responsiveness. If you are operating from an unspoken state of "there and then," your
reactions and decision making can be influenced by events and emotions of the past, rather than
by what is happening in the present.
So, for example, if you have a schema of abandonment due to the inextinguishably painful
memory of your father's disappearance when you were six years old, you may be especially
sensitive to the thought of people leaving you. This schema can lead to another schema – a
negative self-appraisal, also known as a “defectiveness schema,” is where a person feels flawed
because Dad left. The thought is, “there is something wrong with me because my Dad didn’t stay
around.”
We all have schemas, and typically more than one. They are formed in response to early and
imperfect life experiences – and for some people, traumatic experiences.
In many cases, harmful events such as abuse, neglect, abandonment, chaos, or control cause
schemas to become attached to a child's emotional makeup. This, in combination with biological
predisposition, or temperament, ultimately sculpts the child's personality. When schemas are
triggered by an event in the here and now ("He really pushed my buttons"), we may become
flooded with uncomfortable physical sensations and biased thoughts and engage in self-defeating
behaviors.
EARLY MALADAPTIVE SCHEMAS
 Circle or highlight the schemas that you identify with below.
1. ABANDONMENT / INSTABILITY – the sense that significant others will not be able to continue
providing emotional support, connection, strength, or practical protection because they are
emotionally unstable and unpredictable. This instability can involve people who have angry
outbursts, are unreliable, or are unsteadily present. A person with this schema may be
worried that someone may die soon or abandon them in favor of someone better.
2. MISTRUST / ABUSE – The expectation that others will hurt, abuse, humiliate, cheat, lie,
manipulate, or take advantage of you. Usually involves the perception that the harm is
deliberate or the result of unjustified and extreme negligence. May include the sense that
you always end up being cheated relative to others or that you are "getting the short end of
the stick."
3. EMOTIONAL DEPRIVATION – The expectation that others will not adequately meet your desire
for a normal degree of emotional support. There are three major forms of deprivation:
a. Deprivation of nurturance – absence of attention, affection, warmth, or
companionship.
b. Deprivation of empathy – absence of understanding, listening, comfort, self-disclosure,
or mutual sharing of feelings from others.
c. Deprivation of protection – absence of strength, direction, or guidance from others.
4. DEFECTIVENESS / SHAME – The feeling that you are defective, bad, unwanted, inferior, or
invalid in important respects; or that you would be unlovable to significant others if exposed.
May involve hypersensitivity to criticism, rejection, and blame; self-consciousness,
comparisons, and insecurity around others; or a sense of shame regarding your perceived
flaws. These flaws may be private (for example, selfishness, angry impulses, or unacceptable
sexual desires) or public (such as undesirable physical appearance or social awkwardness).
5. SOCIAL ISOLATION / ALIENTATION – The feeling that you are isolated from the rest of the
world, different from other people, and/or not part of any group or community.
6. DEPENDENCE / INCOMPETENCE – Belief that you are unable to handle everyday
responsibilities in a competent manner without considerable help from others. (For example,
take care of yourself, solve daily problems, exercise good judgment, tackle new tasks, or
make good decisions). Often feels like helplessness.
7. VULNERABILITY TO HARM OR ILLNESS – Exaggerated fear that imminent catastrophe will strike
at any time and that you will be unable to prevent it. Fears focus on one or more of the
following: medical catastrophes, such as heart attacks or AIDS; emotional catastrophes, such
as "going crazy"; external catastrophes, such as elevators collapsing, being victimized by
criminals, airplane crashes, or earthquakes.
8. ENMESHMENT / UNDEVELOPED SELF – Excessive emotional involvement and closeness with
one or more significant others (often parents), at the expense of your individual identity or
normal social development. Often involves the belief that you cannot survive or be happy
without the constant support of the enmeshed other. May also include feelings of being
smothered by or fused with others. You may feel a lack of sufficient individual identity. Often
experienced as a feeling of emptiness and floundering, having no direction, or in extreme
cases questioning your existence.
9. FAILURE – The belief that you have failed, will inevitably fail, or are fundamentally inadequate
relative to your peers in areas of achievement (such as school, career, or sports). Often
involves beliefs that you are stupid, inept, untalented, ignorant, lower in status, less successful
than others, and so on.
10. ENTITLEMENT / GRANDIOSITY The belief that you are superior to other people; entitled to
special rights and privileges; or not bound by the rules of reciprocity that guide normal social
interaction. Often involves insistence that you should be able to do or have whatever you
want, regardless of what is realistic, what others consider reasonable, or the cost to others.
Also common is an exaggerated focus on superiority (for example, being among the most
successful, famous, wealthy) in order to achieve power or control (not primarily for attention
or approval). Sometimes includes excessive competitiveness toward, or domination of,
others: asserting your power, forcing your point of view, or controlling the behavior of others
in line with your own desires-without empathy or concern for others' needs or feelings.
11. INSUFFICIENT SELF-CONTROL / SELF-DISCIPLINE – Pervasive difficulty or refusal to exercise
sufficient self-control and tolerate frustration to achieve your personal goals, or to restrain the
excessive expression of your emotions and impulses. In its milder form, you may experience a
tendency to avoid discomfort: avoiding pain, conflict, confrontation, responsibility, or
overexertion-at the expense of personal fulfillment, commitment, or integrity.
12. SUBJUGATION – Excessive surrendering of control to others because you feel coerced-usually
to avoid anger, retaliation, or abandonment. There are two major forms of subjugation:
a. Subjugation of needs – suppression of your preferences, decisions, and desires.
b. Subjugation of emotions – suppression of emotional expression, especially anger.
Usually involves the perception that your desires, opinions, and feelings are not valid or
important to others. Frequently, there is a tendency toward excessive compliance,
combined with hypersensitivity to feeling trapped. Generally leads to a buildup of anger,
which can lead to passive-aggressive behavior, uncontrolled outbursts of temper,
psychosomatic symptoms, withdrawal of affection, acting out, and substance abuse.
13. SELF-SACRIFICE – Excessive focus on voluntarily meeting the needs of others in daily situations,
at the expense of your own gratification. The most common reasons are to prevent causing
pain to others, to avoid guilt from feeling selfish, or to maintain the connection with others
perceived as needy. Often results from an acute sensitivity to the pain of others. Sometimes
leads to a sense that your own needs are not being adequately met and to resentment of
those who are taken care of. (Overlaps with concept of codependency.)
14. APPROVAL SEEKING / RECOGNITION SEEKING – Excessive emphasis on gaining approval,
recognition, or attention from other people, or fitting in, at the expense of developing a
secure and true sense of self. Your sense of self-esteem is dependent primarily on the
reactions of others rather than on your own natural inclinations. Sometimes includes an
overemphasis on status, appearance, social acceptance, money, or achievement-as means
of gaining approval, admiration, or attention. Frequently, results in major life decisions that
are inauthentic or unsatisfying, or in hypersensitivity to rejection.
15. NEGATIVITY / PESSIMISM – A pervasive, lifelong focus on the negative aspects of life (pain,
death, loss, disappointment, conflict, guilt, resentment, unsolved problems, potential
mistakes, betrayal, things that could go wrong, and so on) while minimizing or neglecting the
positive or optimistic aspects. Usually includes an exaggerated expectation-in a wide range
of work, financial, or interpersonal situations-that things will eventually go seriously wrong, or
that aspects of your life that seem to be going well will ultimately fall apart. Usually involves
an inordinate fear of making mistakes that might lead to financial collapse, loss, humiliation,
or being trapped in a bad situation. Because potential negative outcomes are exaggerated,
chronic worry, vigilance, complaining, or indecision frequently characterize your behaviors.
16. EMOTIONAL INHIBITION – The excessive inhibition of spontaneous action, feeling, or
communication-usually to avoid disapproval by others, feelings of shame, or losing control of
your impulses. The most common areas of inhibition involve inhibition of anger and
aggression; inhibition of positive impulses (such as joy, affection, sexual excitement, or play);
difficulty expressing vulnerability or communicating freely about your feelings, needs, and so
on; and excessive emphasis on rational wisdom while disregarding emotions.
17. UNRELENTING STANDARDS / HYPERCRITICALNESS – The underlying belief that you must strive to
meet very high internalized standards of behavior and performance, usually to avoid
criticism. Typically results in feelings of pressure or difficulty slowing down, and in hypercriticalness toward yourself and others. Involves a significant impairment in pleasure,
relaxation, health, self-esteem, sense of accomplishment, or satisfying relationships.
Unrelenting standards typically appear in three forms:
a. Perfectionism – inordinate attention to detail, or an underestimate of how good your
performance is relative to the norm.
b. Rigid rules and “shoulds” – in many areas of life, including unrealistically high moral,
ethical, cultural, or religious precepts.
c. Preoccupation with time and efficiency – so that more can be accomplished.
18. PUNITIVENESS – The belief that people should be harshly punished for making mistakes. Involves
the tendency to be angry, intolerant, punitive, and impatient with those people (including
yourself) who do not meet your expectations or standards. Usually includes difficulty forgiving
mistakes in yourself or others, because of a reluctance to consider extenuating circumstances,
allow for human imperfection, or empathize with feelings.