Development of a Structured Interview to Explore Interpersonal Schema of Older Adults Living Alone Based on Autobiographical Memory

With a growing public interest in the social health of older adults, studies focusing on social networks and interpersonal relationships of older adults are needed. The present study was conducted to develop a structured interview to evaluate the interpersonal schema based on Self-Defining Memory of older adults. First, the word cues that the older adults often report on interpersonal events were confirmed. Next, the indices and scoring rules were prepared, including Relationship frequency (RF), Conflict frequency (CF), Dominance mean (Dm), and Warmth mean (Wm). Healthy older adults living alone (mean age = 71.81, SD = 3.95) were interviewed. Finally, the correlation between each index and Short form of Korean Inventory of Interpersonal Problems Circumplex Scales (KIIP-SC) was analyzed for criterion validity. The inter-rater reliability was substantial (Kappa = 0.61~0.66). Based on the analysis of criterion validity, the indices of CF, Dm, and Wm indices showed an appropriate level of criterion validity. This study developed a structural interview based on a novel system of reporting autobiographical memory and established indices with appropriate validity to evaluate interpersonal relationships. The interview is expected to identify the characteristics of interpersonal relationships of the older adults and contribute to the establishment of the older adults’ community accordingly.

Development of a Structured Interview to Explore Interpersonal Schema of Elderly Living Alone Based on Autobiographical Memory

As a growing public interest in social health of elderly, studies focusing on social networks and interpersonal relationships of the elderly are needed. The present study was conducted to de-velop a structured interview to evaluate the interpersonal schema based on Self-Defining Memory of elderly. First, the word cues that the elderly often report on interpersonal events were con-firmed. Next, the indices and scoring rules were prepared, including Relationship frequency (RF), Conflict frequency (CF), Dominance mean (Dm), and Warmth mean (Wm). Healthy elderly peo-ple living alone (mean age = 71.81, SD = 3.95) were interviewed. Finally, the correlation between each index and Short form of Korean Inventory of Interpersonal Problems Circumplex Scales (KIIP-SC) was analyzed for criterion validity. The inter-rater reliability was substantial (Kappa = .61 ~ .66). Based on the analysis of criterion validity, the indices of CF, Dm, and Wm indices showed an appropriate level of criterion validity. This study developed a structural interview based on a novel system of reporting autobiographical memory and established indices with appropriate validity to evaluate interpersonal relationships. The interview is expected to identify the characteristics of interpersonal relationships of the elderly and contribute to the establishment of the elderly community, accordingly.

The Inner Schema of Borderline States and Its Correction During Psychotherapy: A Cognitive-Evolutionary Approach

A growing body of clinical reflections and empirical evidence supports the hypothesis that an inner interpersonal schema stemming from attachment disorganization underlies the borderline states. This article begins with a brief outline of attachment disorganization and a discussion of its relevance for the understanding of psychopathological developments in general. Then it offers a review of the evidence supporting the hypothesis of a specific link between attachment disorganization and borderline states. The relevance of evolutionary psychology for understanding the genesis of the inner schema related to attachment disorganization and its link to the clinical features of borderline patients is the next topic of the article. Finally, some consequences of this evolutionary approach in the treatment of borderline patients are outlined.

Understanding Revictimization Among Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivors: An Interpersonal Schema Approach

Revictimization among women with a history of childhood sexual abuse was investigated within the context of a developmental model of interpersonal schemas. Data from the Interpersonal Schema Questionnaire (ISQ) revealed contrasting schema characteristics among sexually revictimized women (those sexually abused in childhood and sexually assaulted in adulthood) (n = 26), compared to those only abused in childhood (n = 18), and those never abused or assaulted (n = 25). Both revictimized women and never victimized women significantly generalized their predominant parental schemas to current relationships and differed only in the content of the schemas. The generalized parental schema of revictimized women viewed others as hostile and controlling while that of never victimized women viewed others as warm and noncontrolling. Women who had only been abused in childhood held schemas of parents as hostile but not controlling and did not generalize from parental to current schemas. The tendency to generalize observed in the first two groups suggest that “repetition compulsion” is not limited to those who were traumatized and are psychologically distressed. In this article, reasons for the absence of generalization among the childhood abuse only group are explored and implications for the treatment of childhood trauma survivors are discussed.

The Relationship Between Patient Pretreatment Interpersonal Schemas and Therapeutic Alliance in Short-Term Cognitive Therapy

This pilot study examined the relationship between interpersonal schemas (as measured by the Interpersonal Schema Questionnaire) and the therapeutic alliance (as measured early in treatment by a patient self-report version of the Working Alliance Inventory) in short-term cognitive therapy. Twenty-six (15 men, 11 women) patients participated in this study. Findings revealed that the complementarity of expected responses in submissive situations was positively associated with therapeutic alliance, whereas the complementarity of expected responses in dominant situations and the desirability of these responses were negatively related to therapeutic alliance.

The Relationship Between Interpersonal Schemas and Personality Characteristics

The present study was designed to examine the relationship between the interpersonal schemas (as measured by the Interpersonal Schema Questionnaire) and personality characteristics (as measured by the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory) within the framework of Safran’s (1990) cognitive-interpersonal approach. Ninety-two patients (40 men, 52 women) participated in this study. Their mean age was 35.09 years. The results generally demonstrated that expected responses from significant others in submissive situations were negatively correlated with histrionic personality characteristics. Expected responses from significant others in friendly situations were negatively correlated with schizotypal personality characteristics. Expected responses from significant others in friendly situations were positively correlated with antisocial personality characteristics.