Early adverse experiences and the formation of schemas
Early maladaptive schemas form through exposure to early adverse experiences in the environment. Young and his colleagues extended Beck’s concept of underlying assumptions and named them early maladaptive schemas (EMS). They see these schemas as deep, pervasive themes or patterns about oneself and one’s relationships with others, and as highly dysfunctional. The schemas form in childhood or adolescence and go on ruling absolutely over the course of a life.
Young and his colleagues believe that early maladaptive schemas are activated when a person meets environments that recall the adverse environment of their childhood. When this happens, the person is overtaken by intense and often overwhelming negative emotions. A growing body of evidence supports the existence of early maladaptive schemas.
What is a maladaptive coping style?
Early maladaptive schemas show themselves through maladaptive coping styles. Young and his colleagues describe three coping styles, linked to the three basic responses of fight, flight and freeze: surrender (freeze), avoidance (flight) and overcompensation (fight). In any given situation a person probably uses only one coping style, but with early maladaptive schemas they may show different coping styles in different situations.
The surrender coping style
Schema surrender: people with this style become obedient followers of the schema and let it win. They do not try to fight or avoid it. They put their seal of approval on the schema and act in ways that confirm it. As adults they ruminate over the childhood experiences that feed their early maladaptive schemas.
The avoidance coping style
Schema avoidance: people with this coping style try to arrange their lives so that their schemas are never activated, and act as if no schema existed at all. They avoid situations that might trigger their schemas, and if a schema is activated they may take refuge in behaviours that let them avoid and escape the emotional turmoil linked to it — such as heavy drinking, drug use, workaholism or compulsive behaviours. All of these behaviours serve to avoid the feelings the schema brings.
The overcompensation coping style
Schema overcompensation: people with this style fight the schema in their thinking, feeling and behaviour, as if its opposite were true. For example, a person adopts perfectionistic attitudes to make up for underlying feelings of worthlessness.
A child who was submissive may become defiant as an adult. A person who was controlled as a child will try to control others as an adult, and someone who was abused as a child may mistreat others as an adult.
Sources:
– Jeffrey Young, Reinventing Your Life, Persian translation by Dr Hassan Hamidpour, Arjmand Publishing
– Martin R. Bamber, Schema Therapy for Occupational Stress (Persian title), translated by Dr Hassan Hamidpour, Arjmand Publishing
Moeen Counselling Centre plans to run specialist schema-focused therapist training courses for professionals and students in counselling and psychology, taught by Dr Amir Askari. Because schemas form in childhood, the centre also runs parenting courses for the public. To hear about course dates and requirements, join our network.
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