Table of Contents
What is a negative self-schema?
Self-schemas are ideas and frameworks through which we perceive information about ourselves. They can change the way we think and act. Negative self-schemas are unhealthy, degrading, and harmful versions of these self-beliefs. Examples include the following: “I am worthless” Typically, a person with low self-esteem: Is extremely critical of themselves. Downplays or ignores their positive qualities. Judges themselves to be inferior to their peers. Uses negative words to describe themselves such as stupid, fat, ugly or unlovable. Negative beliefs about the self, the world and the future are common during an episode of depression. According to Beck’s influential cognitive theory, individuals who hold negative self-schemas when otherwise well are vulnerable to developing depression in the future ( Beck, 1967). Specifically, Beck described beliefs regarding the self, one’s personal world, and the future as the negative cognitive triad (e.g., “If I don’t succeed, I am a failure”). When such cognitive schemas are employed, individuals construct representations of reality that are consistent with symptoms of psychopathology.
How does the negative schema work?
A person with a negative self-schema is likely to interpret information about themselves in a negative way, which could lead to cognitive biases, such as those outlined above. Self-schema are categories of knowledge that reflect how we expect ourselves to think, feel, and act in particular settings or situations. Each of these beliefs includes our overall perceptions of ourselves (outgoing, shy, talkative), as well as our knowledge of past experiences in similar situations. A negative thought is usually a criticism of oneself. Divides the world into good or bad foods • Sees self as a success or failure • Is on or off the track Look at what I did. I ate that cake. I will never be able to reach my goal. Another way to look at these cognitive thoughts is through Beck’s Negative Cognitive Triad, which explains that negative thoughts are about the self, the world, and the future. Beck’s (1967) cognitive triad model of depression identifies three common forms of negative (helpless and/or critical) self-referent thinking which occur spontaneously (‘automatically’) in individuals with depression: negative thoughts about the self, the world and the future.
Is a negative schema cognitive?
Negative schemas lead to systematic cognitive biases in thinking. For example, individuals over-generalise, drawing a sweeping conclusion regarding self-worth on the basis of one small negative piece of feedback. “Negative cognitive styles” (Alloy et al., 1988) is an umbrella term that describes an individual’s tendency to interpret causes of negative events as internal, global, and stable. Although all persons evidence schemas, the schemas of depressed individuals are dysfunctional because they lead to negative perspectives about oneself, the world, and the future, or what Beck has termed, the negative cognitive triad. The problem with schemas is that they are often rigid and resistant to change. Schemas are often biased to the negative or represent a kind of fear-based thinking that is unhelpful. When you have this lens, you may impose this view on the world or act in ways that make it come true without realizing it. Positive self-schemas are defined as positive core beliefs about the self and have been found to explain unique variance in psychopathology and well-being among youth (Cherry and Lumley 2019; Keyfitz et al.
What is negative self-concept in simple words?
A negative self-concept refers to people’s negative perceptions of themselves. Those with negative self-concepts might be unable to accept criticisms but be responsive to praise. Such people will feel that others like them. About negative emotions Emotions that can become negative are hate, anger, jealousy and sadness. Yet, in the right context, these feelings are completely natural. Negative emotions can dampen our enthusiasm for life, depending on how long we let them affect us and the way we choose to express them. Second, we distinguish the four main conceptual units that constitute the various selves of self-presentation. These are the public self, the self-concept, the actual or behavioral self, and the ideal self. The term self-schema refers to the beliefs and thoughts people have about themselves in order to organize information about the self. Self-schemas are generalizations about the self that are abstracted from past experiences and acting in a present situation.
What are self-schemas examples?
A few examples of self-schemas are: exciting or dull; quiet or loud; healthy or sickly; athletic or nonathletic; lazy or active; and geek or jock. If a person has a schema for geek or jock, for example, he might think of himself as a bit of a computer geek and would possess a lot of information about that trait. There are many types of schemas, including object, person, social, event, role, and self schemas. You can go to psychotherapy and search for a psychotherapist who is experienced with Schema Therapy to work on your schemas. This is probably the best way to fight your schemas. Schema theory can be classified into three types: linguistic schema, content schema, and formal schema. Linguistic schema refers to a student’s previous knowledge about phonics, grammar, and vocabulary.
What is negative and positive self-concept?
With a positive self-image, we recognize and own our assets and potentials while being realistic about our liabilities and limitations. With a negative self-image, we focus on our faults and weaknesses, distorting failure and imperfections. Negative information we hold about ourselves based on negative past experiences that can lead to cognitive biases. A negative self-concept refers to people’s negative perceptions of themselves. Those with negative self-concepts might be unable to accept criticisms but be responsive to praise. Such people will feel that others like them. Subsequently, there are evidence indicating that the self is social through the following three theories: (1) Self-Perception Theory, (2) Self-Discrepancy Theory, and (3) Self-Expansion Theory. Beck’s negative triad holds that depressed people have negative thoughts about themselves, their experiences in the world, and the future. For instance, a depressed person might think, I didn’t get the job because I’m terrible at interviews. These schemas are developed during childhood and according to Beck, depressed people possess negative self-schemas, which may come from negative experiences, for example criticism, from parents, peers or even teachers.
What are three characteristics of a negative self-concept?
comparing self negatively to others. difficulty accepting compliments. neglect of own needs, particularly emotional ones. putting the needs of others before self. Seeing yourself as unattractive and undesirable. Having an image of yourself as a stupid or unintelligent person. Seeing an unhappy, unhealthy person when you look in the mirror. Believing that you are nowhere near your ideal version of yourself. Constant worrying, complaining about anything and everything, lack of confidence, gloom and anxiety can be soul-destroying. These are the traits common among negative people. In life, as they say, there will be always good times and bad times too. Beck’s negative cognitive triad of depression consists of negative thoughts about the self, negative thoughts about one’s experiences, and negative thoughts about the future.
What is Becks negative schema?
Beck believed that depression prone individuals develop a negative self-schema. They possess a set of beliefs and expectations about themselves that are essentially negative and pessimistic. Beck claimed that negative schemas may be acquired in childhood as a result of a traumatic event. Beck’s cognitive theory of depression proposes that persons susceptible to depression develop inaccurate/unhelpful core beliefs about themselves, others, and the world as a result of their learning histories. Beck also asserts that there are three main dysfunctional belief themes (or schemas) that dominate depressed people’s thinking: 1) I am defective or inadequate, 2) All of my experiences result in defeats or failures, and 3) The future is hopeless. In this model, once activated, negative self-schemata predispose to depression by enhancing both automatic and controlled processing of schema-consistent, negative information – thus contributing to negative interpretations of experiences, and in turn leading to core MDD symptoms such as sadness, hopelessness, … Schemas or ‘negative life beliefs’ can lead to low self-esteem, lack of connection to others, problems expressing feelings and emotions and excessive worrying about basic safety issues. The beliefs can also create strong attraction to inappropriate partners and lead to dissatisfying careers.