Representations of the Early Maladaptive Schemas on the Interpersonal Circumplex

The interpersonal personality theory and the schema therapy model proposed similar explanations for the development and maintenance of personality and interpersonal dysfunctions. They both emphasize that the fundamental needs of childhood are met within interpersonal relationships, and that unsatisfactory relational experiences in early years can lead to interpersonal problems in adulthood. The present study conducted a circumplex analysis of early maladaptive schemas to examine their locations on the interpersonal circumplex. A community sample of Turkey consisting of 1056 adults with an age range of 18 to 77 participated in the study. Results indicated that interpersonal problems were most strongly associated with the schemas in disconnection and the impaired autonomy domain that were located on the hostile-submission quadrant. The exaggerated standards schema domain was located on the friendly-dominance, the other-directedness domain was located on the friendly-submission quadrant, and the impaired limits/entitlement schema was located on the dominance vector of the interpersonal circumplex. All schemas and schema domains were represented on the interpersonal circumplex, consistent with the schema therapy model's conceptualizations of interpersonal relationship patterns. Circumplex locations of early maladaptive schemas revealed their structural map on the interpersonal circumplex. The present findings provide cross-cultural validation of the schema therapy model and empirical support for its integration with interpersonal theory of personality.