Maladaptive Schemas in Personality Disorders: What Are They?

Personality is the uniqueness of the person, which is integrated according to Pervin (1998) in the complex organization of cognitions, emotions and behaviors that gives direction and coherence to the individual’s life. As the physical body is made up of structures, processes, genes and learning, it encompasses the effects of the past (memories) and the possibility of creating the present and the future.

When this uniqueness and optimal integration is altered, personality disorders arise, which will limit or generate instability/conflict in the individual both on a personal level and in the development of their different roles and functions. These alterations or disintegration of personality will give rise to a series of types of personality disorders which are divided into three groups A, B and C.

On the other hand, each disorder is related to different maladaptive schemas, which were generated in childhood, but to make the schemas known in depth I want to share information about the disorders so you can understand them better.

What is a personality disorder?

Personality disorders refer to a group of mental disorders where the person has a prolonged pattern of thinking, emotions and behaviors that are not in accordance with what is common or normal within a culture or society These interfere with the ability to perform normally in both interpersonal and interpersonal relationships and other contexts.

Sánchez and Ortiz (2007) mention Millon (1998) where the author states personality disorders in 8 areas or psychological perspectives such as: observable behaviors, interpersonal, cognitive style, defense mechanism, self-image, object representations, organization morphology and mood and temperament.

All of them must be integrated in a unifying way for a functional personality, otherwise disorders arise as a product of the disintegration or restrictions of each area that shapes the expression of each person. Personality disorders are divided into three groups A, B and C of which are made up of certain types:

Each of them has its characteristic or peculiarity that differentiates each of them. It is also very important to know some traits that will unite personality disorders, many of them will present at the same time, as in cases of BPD, a person who suffers from this problem will present characteristics or symptoms of BPD added to the antisocial, narcissistic, dependent personality traits, etc.

What are maladaptive schemas?

Young and Klosko (2007) consider schemas to be those universal dysfunctional patterns that are persistent and are made up of memories, emotions, beliefs, thoughts, bodily sensations and expectations. These develop during childhood and adolescence and are maintained throughout life Which indicates that maladaptive behaviors are responses to the schemes since the schemes are the cause of the behaviors, but are not part of it.

On the other hand, López (2011) mentions Cid (2009) where the author calls them early non-adaptive schemes because they are a complex, persistent theme that is formed by memories, emotions, thoughts and bodily sensations that refer to self-analysis. and interrelationships with the outside world.

For Young, Klosko and Wheishaar (2003) The schemes are divided into negative schemes and positive schemes, as well as early or late schemes Likewise, schemes usually present different degrees of severity (the number of times they are activated), rigidity and resistance to change (the origin, the situation, the representative figures and the amount of duration are discussed). These are the characteristics of maladaptive schemes:

What are personality disorders and their maladaptive schemas?

They are the following:

The maladaptive schemas mentioned in the different types of personality disorders are those schemas that tend to occur most frequently. However, Each case is unique since having a maladaptive scheme will always be related to other In any case, it will also depend on the personality disorder and its severity.

What is the appropriate therapy for the therapeutic intervention of maladaptive schemas?

Without a doubt, schema therapy, created by Young, is a novel and integrative therapy of other therapeutic models such as cognitive behavioral, Gestalt, psychodynamics, secure attachment, among others. The union of these models allows for a more comprehensive therapeutic approach, which is why positive effects are achieved in the different disorders whose origin is childhood trauma.

For everything already mentioned above, it can be concluded that personality disorders are the disintegration of the psychological areas mentioned by Millon These disorders will present a peculiarity depending on the group and type and in some personality disorders traits of other personality disorders may be present.

On the other hand, it is important to know that the cause of personality disorders is in two factors: endogenous and exogenous: exogenous causes are those that occur within the environment or environment of the individual (parents, caregivers, family, peers…) , when this medium of interrelation (child-parents) is not healthy or satisfactory, maladaptive schemes are generated and these in turn will give rise to different types of personality disorders.

Each disorder will present different maladaptive schemas which must be carried out with schema therapy, through a therapeutic approach, in where the therapist uses limited reparenting in order to satisfy some need of the “vulnerable child” that was not met in his or her childhood or early stage As the depth of the maladaptive schemas is worked on, the client reinterprets those traumatic experiences and recovers self-care, autonomy and independence, stability… and with it a new life where the healthy adult takes control of his or her life. life.