Early Maladaptive Schemas as Determinants of Student's Youth Lifestyle

Abstract

The article is devoted to the problems of studying the life style in psychology and the factors of its formation. The aim of the work is to establish the role of early maladaptive schemes as factors in the formation of certain aspects of student youth lifestyle. Early maladaptive schemes are considered according to J. Young's concept as models of reality perception which were formed in childhood under the influence of traumatic events and represent the perception and interpretation mechanisms of life experience. The empirical research was carried out on a student sample (21-27 years old) of both sexes; the total number of the studied people was 195. The method of early memories analysis and its quantitative assessment by the parameters of social interest, life position questionnaire, self-assessment of personality maturity, method of personality maturity diagnosis, world assumptions scale, diagnosing of interpersonal relationships style, differential emotions scale and J.Young’s early maladaptive schemas (EMS) questionnaire were used in the investigation. The results in six typical models lifestyles constructing were identified: "Avoidance of contact", "Superiority Complex", "Assertiveness", "Mimetism", "Maturity", "Interpersonal dependence". Specific and nonspecific mechanisms of EMS influence on lifestyles has been established. Nonspecific mechanism was revealed only for the "Interpersonal dependence" style. The styles "Avoidance of contact", "Mimetism", " Superiority Complex", "Assertiveness", "Maturity" revealed specific mechanisms, which consist in traumatic foundation presence formed by certain EMS for each style. "Avoidance of contact" is shaped like enhanced autonomy and intimacy avoidance. "Mimetism" is associated with overcoming the inferiority feelings by imitating worthy socially approved behavior. The "Superiority complex" is a protective "mask" associated with the conflict between the inferiority feeling and the Self-grandiosity. Life styles that are mature ("Maturity" and "Assertiveness") have traumatic basis, formed due to fixations in the early stages of personality development, and the ability to achieve mature aspects of personality occurs through various coping strategies.