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

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.