Schema Domain: Impaired Limits
What’s new?
Our schema series includes three information handouts which provide detailed explanations of schemas within the impaired limits domain.
Schema therapy
Schema therapy is an evidence-based, integrative therapy developed for treating complex and longstanding difficulties. It expands on CBT by emphasising the developmental origins of psychological problems and incorporating relational and experiential interventions (Young et al., 2003).
Schema therapy concepts can be challenging for clients to grasp. Here we introduce another set of schema information handouts that focus on the impaired limits domain.
Impaired limits domain
Jeffrey Young (1990) originally described 15 schemas, which were later expanded to 18 (Young et al., 2003). These schemas were grouped into hypothetical ‘schema domains’, each associated with specific unmet emotional needs. Initially, these domains were disconnection and rejection, impaired autonomy and performance, impaired limits, other-directedness, overvigiliance and inhibition (Young et al., 2003). However, subsequent research has suggested a more parsimonious categorization of 4 schema domains (Bach et al., 2018; Hoffart et al., 2005; Mącik & Mącik, 2022). These refined domains are disconnection and rejection, excessive responsibility and standards, impaired autonomy and performance, and impaired limits.
Schemas in the impaired limits domain are associated with difficulties pursuing long-term goals, setting internal limits, and/or respecting the rights of others. This can lead to impulsivity, grandiosity, and entitlement. Each schema in this domain is described below.
Approval-/Admiration-Seeking
Approval-/admiration-seeking is characterized by a persistent need for approval, attention, and adulation from others, usually at the expense of a person’s own desires and development. It was initially grouped with EMS in the ‘other directedness’ domain (Young et al., 2003), but subsequent research suggests that it is better categorized in the ‘impaired limits’ domain, as it can lead to difficulties relating to internal limits, responsibility to others, and pursuing realistic goals (Bach et al., 2018; Young, 2014).
Entitlement
People with an entitlement schema see themselves as unique or superior to others. As a result, they might think that they deserve special treatment or should be able to do whatever they like. This means they can sometimes come across as demanding, self-centered, or insensitive. Entitlement has been previously referred to as ‘entitlement/grandiosity’ (Young et al., 2003).
Insufficient Self-Control
People with an insufficient self-control schema find it difficult to manage their emotions and behaviors. This can lead to problems with self-discipline and impulsivity. Another hallmark of this schema is avoiding things that could be boring, frustrating, or uncomfortable, even when this causes serious issues.
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References
- Bach, B., Lockwood, G., & Young, J. E. (2018). A new look at the schema therapy model: organization and role of early maladaptive schemas. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 47, 328-349. DOI: 10.1080/16506073.2017.1410566.
- Hoffart, A., Sexton, H., Hedley, L. M., Wang, C. E., Holthe, H., Haugum, J. A., Nordahl, H. M., Hovland, O. J., & Holte, A. (2005). The structure of maladaptive schemas: A confirmatory factor analysis and a psychometric evaluation of factor-derived scales. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 29, 627-644. DOI: 10.1007/s10608-005-9630-0.
- Mącik, D., & Mącik, R. (2022). Are four maladaptive schema domains a better option than five? Recommendations based on comparison of the latent structure of schemas on a large group of healthy adults. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 50, 334-344. DOI: 10.1017/S1352465821000539.
- Young, J. E. (1990). Cognitive therapy for personality disorders: A schema-focused approach. Practitioner’s Resource Exchange.
- Young, J. E., Klosko, J. S., & Weishaar, M. E. (2003). Schema therapy: A practitioner’s guide. Guilford Press.
- Young, J. E. (2014). Early maladaptive schemas. Schema Therapy Institute, New York.