Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMSs)

Early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) are described as “broad, pervasive theme or pattern, comprised of memories, emotions, cognitions, and bodily sensations, regarding oneself and one’s relationships with others, developed during childhood or adolescence, elaborated throughout one’s lifetime and dysfunctional to a significant degree” (Young, Klosko, & Weishaar, 2003, p.7). The theory is conceptualized five universal core emotional needs that need to be met by significant others during childhood (Young, 1999). These core needs are (1) being securely attached to caregivers; (2) freedom of expression of emotions / needs; (3) competence, autonomy, and a sense of identity; (4) play, and spontaneity; and (5) self-control, and realistic limits. Bu yazının fikri hakları Derya Şen, Uzm. Psikolog yazarına aittir. Ankara Psikolog

EMSs which are stated as a trigger of maladaptive or dysfunctional behaviors are likely to develop in the case of one or more needs are adequately not being met. Indeed, four processes are considered to play a role in developing EMSs. First process is called as “toxic frustration of needs”. It occurs when the significant others are not sensitive to their child’s need, and (unintentionally) show little attention to their child, thus the basic needs of the child, such as nurturance and safety are not met. Another is “traumatization or victimization” which occurs when the child’s needs cannot be met due to a trauma that is witnessed or be a victim of by the child. The third process is the opposite of the first one which is called “too much of a good thing”. In this case, the significant others are too sensitive to their child’s needs and give so much attention, thus not only the healthy boundaries cannot be settled, but also the main focus becomes the needs to be excessively met. The last one is “selective internalization or identification with significant other” that occurs when children selectively internalize with some behaviors of caregivers. These are the toxic experiences of childhood that are called “the primary origin of EMSs”. Moreover, it should be noted that the child’s temperament which is associated with genes is considered to have an effect in the acquisition of EMSs besides the toxic childhood experiences (Young, Klosko, & Weishaar, 2003).

Early maladaptive schema domains

Regarding the Schema Theory, 18 EMSs are categorized into 5 domains (Table 1); however, the theory proposes that it is still possible to discover new more schemas in the light of the empirical research (Young, Klosko, & Weishaar, 2003). The first schema domain is the Disconnection and Rejection. Individuals who have schemas under this domain experience difficulty to securely attach with others. Since their caregivers are mostly rejecting, cold, abusive, and unstable, their basic needs, such as acceptance, stability, security, nurturing, and safety cannot be met. Individuals with the Abandonment/Instability Schema feel intense stress that someone important to them will eventually abandon them. Others are perceived as unreliable to be trusted about emotional support, connection and safety. Those with the Mistrust/Abuse Schema believe that other people will intentionally hurt, lie, cheat, manipulate or take advantage of them. People with the Emotional Deprivation Schema intensely experiences a lack of being understood, of care and affection, or of guidance and protection by others. Those with the Defectiveness/Shame Schema perceive themselves as inferior compared to others and feel ashamed for their self-perceived defects, thus they are sensitive to criticism, rejection, and blame. Lastly, those with the Social Isolation/Alienation Schema feel different from others that damages their sense of belonging to a group or community (Young, Klosko, & Weishaar, 2003).

The Impaired Autonomy and Performance schema domain is the second one. Since caregivers were overprotective and did everything that was needed to do by their children to accomplish, they are not able to function independently from significant others when these children become adults. Thus, the feeling of confidence and competence that they have is highly likely to get damaged. A schema of this domain is the Dependence/Incompetence Schema in which individuals with this schema feel as insufficient to do anything without support. They feel inferior to complete daily tasks without help from others. The second schema is the Vulnerability to Harm or Illness Schema. Individuals have a strong belief that the world is unpredictable, and a catastrophe can happen at any moment. They constantly feel that they are not able to cope with dangers because they tend to overexaggerate the situations, but underestimate their ability to cope with them. Another is the Enmeshed/Undeveloped Self Schema which refers to fusing one’s own identity into the identity of significant other at the expense of his/her full individuation. The last schema in this domain is the Failure Schema. Individuals with this schema constantly perceive themselves as inferior when compared to their peers. They feel that they will eventually fail in the areas which require accomplishment (Young, Klosko, & Weishaar, 2003).

The next early maladaptive schema domain is called the Impaired Limits. Under this domain, people with early maladaptive schemas experience difficulties in respecting others’ rights, cooperating with them, taking responsibilities, and setting goals due to the inadequacies in their internal limits. They are perceived as self-oriented, impulsive, irresponsible, and narcissistic by others. Due to the overindulgent character of their caregivers, they have a lack of direction and discipline, but a sense of superiority. The Entitlement/Grandiosity Schema refers to one’s belief of being superior and entitling to special rights. The other schema belonging to this domain is the Insufficient Self-Control/Self-Discipline. People experience difficulties in controlling of excessively express emotions and in tolerating frustrations when they are facing failure (Young, Klosko, & Weishaar, 2003). 

The Other Directedness schema domain is another one. Individuals with EMSs in this domain sacrifice their own needs to get approval and love from others. They constantly feel that they have to meet others’ needs to keep the emotional bond with others. The origin of this feeling is based on conditional acceptance in childhood. It is very likely that they had to restrain their own needs to be loved and approved when they were a child. The Subjugation Schema refers to one’s excessive compliance with others to avoid anger and abandonment of them at the expense of their own needs. Another schema is the Self-Sacrifice. Individuals with this schema fulfill the needs of others as a voluntary act, otherwise they feel guilty because others are seen as needy to them. The desire of taking respect from others or emotionally being connected with them is the important reason that drives this voluntary action. The Approval- Seeking/Recognition-Seeking Schema refers to one’s self-perception of status. Individuals with this scheme constantly need for an approval, attention, or recognition of others to feel successful or respectful (Young, Klosko, & Weishaar, 2003). Bu yazının fikri hakları Derya Şen, Uzm. Psikolog yazarına aittir. Ankara Psikolog

The last one is the Overvigilance and Inhibition schema domain which indicates to the suppression of spontaneity and emotion-expression. Since the caregivers were rigid about following rules and being perfectionist, their children internalized being perfection and following rules. As adults, they try to be perfect and follow strict rules at the price of spontaneity and self-expression. They tend to be pessimistic and worried about the future. The Negativism/Pessimism Schema is associated with focusing on negative events in life, but ignoring the positive ones. The Emotional Inhibition Schema refers that people restrict their own emotional expression to avoid being criticized and losing control. They tend to cope with the events using rationalization so that they try to decrease emotional intensity. People with the Unrelenting Standards/Hypercriticalness Schema constantly preoccupy with unrealistic standards that they should achieve to be perceived as perfect and get approval from others. The last schema which belongs to this domain is the Punitiveness Schema. People with this schema believe that their mistakes cannot be tolerated, meaning that they have to be harshly punished when they make mistakes (Young, Klosko, & Weishaar, 2003).