Skip to main content

Early Maladaptive Schemas and Cognitive-Behavioral Aspect of Anger: Schema Model Perspective

Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy volume 37, pages 262–283 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Anger in Novaco model (in: Monahan, Steadman (eds) Violence and mental disorder: developments in risk assessment, The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1994) follows in cognitive, arousal and behavioral dimensions. Considerable research (Anderson and Bushman in Annu Rev Psychol 53(1):27–51, 2002; Dozois et al. in Early maladaptive schemas, styles of humor and aggression, 2013; Huesmann, in: Geen, Donnerstein (eds) Human aggression, Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 73–109, 1998) has documented that one’s underlying belief system may influence dispositions toward anger and aggression. The aggressive individuals tend to hold several kinds of elaborate and readily accessible aggression-related cognitions (Gilbert et al. in Crim Justice Behav 40(2):119–138. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093854812467943, 2013). Recognizing the schemas or core beliefs that are associated with anger and aggression would facilitate the therapy for patients with anger and aggression. This study examined the relationships between early maladaptive schemas (EMSs), anger, and aggression among 86 adult individuals in Anger therapy group (n = 24), Control group (n = 29) and Outpatients group (n = 33). The results indicated that the mistrust/abuse schema among five schemas in disconnection/rejection domain, and the entitlement/grandiosity schema among two schemas in impaired limits domain were the strongest predictors of anger and aggression. The next schemas that were associated or predicted anger and aggression and might be considered in therapy are insufficient self-control, abandonment, emotional deprivation, unrelenting standards, approval seeking, subjugation, self-sacrifice, and punitiveness. A comprehensive assessment, interpretation, and intervention for these EMSs, their interaction, and the coping styles would be helpful in anger and aggression therapies.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Anderson, C. A., & Bushman, B. J. (2002). Human aggression. Annual Review of Psychology, 53(1), 27–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Askari, I. (2018). The role of the belief system for anger management of couples with anger and aggression: A cognitive-behavioral perspective. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-018-0307-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atkins, L. (2017). Childhood maltreatment and adult aggression: The mediating role of maladaptive schemas. Oxford: Miami University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bach, B., & Farrell, J. M. (2018). Schemas and modes in borderline personality disorder: The mistrustful, shameful, angry, impulsive, and unhappy child. Psychiatry Research, 259, 323–329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2017.10.039.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bach, B., Lee, C., Mortensen, E. L., & Simonsen, E. (2016). How do DSM-5 personality traits align with schema therapy constructs? Journal of Personality Disorders, 30(4), 502–529.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bach, B., Simonsen, E., Christoffersen, P., & Kriston, L. (2017). The Young Schema Questionnaire 3 Short Form (YSQ-S3): Psychometric properties and association with personality disorders in a Danish mixed sample. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 33(2), 134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baranoff, J., Oei, T. P., Cho, S. H., & Kwon, S.-M. (2006). Factor structure and internal consistency of the Young Schema Questionnaire (Short Form) in Korean and Australian samples. Journal of Affective Disorders, 93(1), 133–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A. T. (2002). Prisoners of hate. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 40(3), 209–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bushman, B. J. (2002). Does venting anger feed or extinguish the flame? Catharsis, rumination, distraction, anger, and aggressive responding. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 28(6), 724–731.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buss, A. H., & Perry, M. (1992). The aggression questionnaire. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63(3), 452.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calvete, E., Estévez, A., López de Arroyabe, E., & Ruiz, P. (2005). The Schema Questionnaire-Short Form: Structure and relationship with automatic thoughts and symptoms of affective disorders. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 21(2), 90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calvete, E., & Orue, I. (2009). Social information processing assessment in Spanish adolescents and its relationship with aggressive behavior. Behavioral Psychology-Psicología Conductual, 17(3), 523–542.

    Google Scholar 

  • Calvete, E., & Orue, I. (2012). Social information processing as a mediator between cognitive schemas and aggressive behavior in adolescents. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 40(1), 105–117. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-011-9546-y.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Calvete, E., Orue, I., & González-Diez, Z. (2013). An examination of the structure and stability of early maladaptive schemas by means of the Young Schema Questionnaire-3. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 29, 283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chakhssi, F., Bernstein, D., & Ruiter, C. (2014). Early maladaptive schemas in relation to facets of psychopathy and institutional violence in offenders with personality disorders. Legal and Criminological Psychology, 19(2), 356–372.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coccaro, E. F., Berman, M. E., & Kavoussi, R. J. (1997). Assessment of life history of aggression: Development and psychometric characteristics. Psychiatry Research, 73(3), 147–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, E., & Wright, M. O. D. (2007). The impact of childhood psychological maltreatment on interpersonal schemas and subsequent experiences of relationship aggression. Journal of Emotional Abuse, 7(2), 93–116. https://doi.org/10.1300/J135v07n02_06.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crick, N. R. (1997). Engagement in gender normative versus nonnormative forms of aggression: Links to social–psychological adjustment. Developmental Psychology, 33(4), 610.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Derogatis, L. R., & Spencer, P. (1993). Brief symptom inventory: BSI. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Derogatis, L. R., & y Cols, J. G. d. R. (2002). SCL-90-R: Cuestionario de síntomas: Tea ediciones.

  • Dobson, K. S. (2009). Handbook of cognitive-behavioral therapies. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dozois, D., Martin, R., & Faulkner, B. (2013). Early maladaptive schemas, styles of humor and aggression. Humor, 26(1), 97–116. https://doi.org/10.1515/humor-2013-0006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dunne, A. L., Gilbert, F., Lee, S., & Daffern, M. (2018). The role of aggression-related early maladaptive schemas and schema modes in aggression in a prisoner sample. Aggressive Behavior, 44, 246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A. (2003). Anger: Hot to live with and without it. New York: Citadel Press. (Rev).

    Google Scholar 

  • Frias, A., Navarro, S., Palma, C., Farriols, N., Aliaga, F., Salvador, A., et al. (2018). Early maladaptive schemas associated with dimensional and categorical psychopathology in patients with borderline personality disorder. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 25(1), e30–e41. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gay, L. E., Harding, H. G., Jackson, J. L., Burns, E. E., & Baker, B. D. (2013). Attachment style and early maladaptive schemas as mediators of the relationship between childhood emotional abuse and intimate partner violence. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 22(4), 408–424. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2013.775982.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geen, R. G., & Quanty, M. B. (1977). The catharsis of aggression: An evaluation of a hypothesis1. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 10, pp. 1–37). Amsterdam: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert, F., Daffern, M., Talevski, D., & Ogloff, J. R. P. (2013). The role of aggression-related cognition in the aggressive behavior of offenders: A general aggression model perspective. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 40(2), 119–138. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093854812467943.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huesmann, L. R. (1998). The role of social information processing and cognitive schema in the acquisition and maintenance of habitual aggressive behavior. In R. G. Geen & E. Donnerstein (Eds.), Human aggression (pp. 73–109). Amsterdam: Elsevier.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Jacob, G., & Arntz, A. (2014). Schema therapy. In R.L. Cautin & S.O. Lilienfeld (Eds.), The encyclopedia of clinical psychology. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118625392.wbecp039.

  • Kachadourian, L. K., Taft, C. T., Holowka, D. W., Woodward, H., Marx, B. P., & Burns, A. (2013). Maladaptive dependency schemas, posttraumatic stress hyperarousal symptoms, and intimate partner aggression perpetration. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 26(5), 580–587. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.21850.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kagan, J., Reznick, J. S., & Snidman, N. (1988). Biological bases of childhood shyness. Science, 240(4849), 167–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kassinove, H., & Tafrate, R. C. (2002). Anger management: The complete treatment guidebook for practitioners. Atascadero, CA: Impact Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kehn, A., Culhane, S. E., Kolmans, L., & Bongard, S. J. (2015). The German translation of the Novaco anger scale and provocation inventory (Ger-NAS-PI). Current Psychology, 34(2), 294–310.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koss, M. P., Abbey, A., Campbell, R., Cook, S., Norris, J., Testa, M., et al. (2007). Revising the SES: A collaborative process to improve assessment of sexual aggression and victimization. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 31(4), 357–370.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kriston, L., Schäfer, J., Jacob, G. A., Härter, M., & Hölzel, L. P. (2013). Reliability and validity of the German version of the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form 3 (YSQ-S3). European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 29, 205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lobbestael, J., Van Vreeswijk, M. F., & Arntz, A. (2008). An empirical test of schema mode conceptualizations in personality disorders. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 46(7), 854–860.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loper, A. B. (2003). The relationship of maladaptive beliefs to personality and behavioral adjustment among incarcerated women. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 17(3), 253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Louis, J. P., Wood, A. M., Lockwood, G., Ho, M.-H. R., & Ferguson, E. (2018). Positive Clinical Psychology and Schema Therapy (ST): The development of the Young Positive Schema Questionnaire (YPSQ) to complement the Young Schema Questionnaire 3 Short Form (YSQ-S3). Psychological Assessment, 30(9), 1199–1213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marais, I., Moir, V., & Lee, C. (2017). The effects of item placement in the Young Schema Questionnaire. Journal of Applied Measurement, 18(4), 370–382.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McKee, M., Roring, S., Winterowd, C., & Porras, C. (2012). The relationship of negative self-schemas and insecure partner attachment styles with anger experience and expression among male batterers. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 27(13), 2685–2702. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260512436395.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morey, L. C., & Staff, P. (1991). Personality assessment inventory. Personality assessment, 2, 181–228.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nighswander, J. K., & Mayer, G. R. (1969). Catharsis: A means of reducing elementary school students’ aggressive behaviors? The Personnel and Guidance Journal, 47(5), 461–466.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Novaco, R. W. (1994). Anger as a risk factor for violence among the mentally disordered. In J. Monahan & H. J. Steadman (Eds.), Violence and mental disorder: Developments in risk assessment (pp. 21–59). Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Novaco, R. W. (2012). The Novaco anger scale and provocation inventory. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, K., Brockman, R., Bailey, P. E., & Kneebone, I. I. (2017). Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form Version 3 (YSQ-S3): Preliminary validation in older adults. Aging & Mental Health, 10, 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raine, A., Dodge, K., Loeber, R., Gatzke-Kopp, L., Lynam, D., Reynolds, C., et al. (2006). The reactive–proactive aggression questionnaire: Differential correlates of reactive and proactive aggression in adolescent boys. Aggressive Behavior, 32(2), 159–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riso, L. P., du Toit, P. L., Stein, D. J., & Young, J. E. (2007). Cognitive schemas and core beliefs in psychological problems: A scientist-practitioner guide. Washington: American Psychological Association.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Shorey, R. C., Elmquist, J., Anderson, S., & Stuart, G. L. (2015). Early maladaptive schemas and aggression in men seeking residential substance use treatment. Personality and Individual Differences, 83, 6–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sigre-Leirós, V. L., Carvalho, J., & Nobre, P. (2013). Early maladaptive schemas and aggressive sexual behavior: A preliminary study with male college students. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 10(7), 1764–1772.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spielberger, C. D. (1999). Sate-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2: STAXI-2: PAR. Odessa: Psychological Assessment Ressources.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stopa, L., & Waters, A. (2005). The effect of mood on responses to the Young Schema Questionnaire: Short form. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 78(1), 45–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Straus, M. A., Hamby, S. L., Boney-McCoy, S., & Sugarman, D. B. (1996). The revised conflict tactics scales (CTS2) development and preliminary psychometric data. Journal of Family Issues, 17(3), 283–316.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tremblay, P. F., & Dozois, D. J. (2009). Another perspective on trait aggressiveness: Overlap with early maladaptive schemas. Personality and Individual Differences, 46(5–6), 569–574.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Young, J. E. (2005). Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form 3 (YSQ-S3). New York, NY: Cognitive Therapy Center.

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, J. E., Klosko, J. S., & Weishaar, M. E. (2003). Schema therapy: A practitioner’s guide. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yudofsky, S. C., Silver, J. M., Jackson, W., Endicott, J., & Williams, D. (1986). The Overt Aggression Scale for the objective rating of verbal and physical aggression. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 143, 35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Special Thanks to my supervisor, Prof. Dr. Gisela Steins, university of Duisburg-Essen. This research would not have been possible without her advice and support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Psychology, University of Duisburg-Essen, S06 S03 A51, University Street 2, 45141, Essen, Germany

    Iman Askari

Authors
  1. Iman Askari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Iman Askari.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The author has no conflict of interest.

Ethical Standards

The author confirms that the present research complies with ethical guidelines.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic Supplementary Material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 76 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Askari, I. Early Maladaptive Schemas and Cognitive-Behavioral Aspect of Anger: Schema Model Perspective. J Rat-Emo Cognitive-Behav Ther 37, 262–283 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-018-0311-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-018-0311-9

Keywords

  • Anger
  • Aggression
  • Early maladaptive schemas