Early maladaptive schemas in marital violence

Abstract

This study proposes an understanding of marital violence and its perpetuation cycle, using the perspective of the Theory of Schemes from Jeffrey Young. It was investigated the correlation between marital violence and the Early Maladaptive Schemas as well as the correlation between the schemes and negotiation skills. With this aim it was used a correlational design. The sample consisted of 163 participants, married or in a stable relationship. The instruments used for data collection were: Inventory of Schemes of Jeffrey Young (YQS-S3) and Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2). The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis. There was a positive and significant relationship (p < 0.05) between marital violence and schemes of mistrust/abuse, social isolation/alienation, defectiveness/shame, dependence/incompetence, entanglement, self-sacrifice, inflexible standards, grandiosity/ arrogate, insufficient self-control/self-discipline and punitive posture. Considering the skills of negotiation, it was found a negative correlation with the schemes of emotional deprivation, defectiveness/shame, failure, entanglement, subjugation, insufficient self-control/ self-discipline, self-sacrifice and dependence/incompetence. The results point to the existence of a pattern of personality schemes among individuals who experience violence in the marital relationship, as well as their association with negotiation skills.