Schemas revisited

Abstract

Abstract Schemas are one of the key concepts of modern psychotherapy. However, there remains much confusion regarding the nature of this concept. For example, it is sometimes confused with related concepts (e.g. core beliefs) and often used incorrectly to describe specific forms of cognition (e.g. self‐referent beliefs). The present paper suggests that core beliefs and self‐referent beliefs are sub‐components of schemas, and thus should not be used synonymously with the parent concept. For many clinicians, these distinctions may appear rather pedantic or academic, but we would argue that correct differentiation is essential if one intends to deliver good therapy. It is suggested that a more appropriate understanding of the concept of schemas would draw clinicians' attention to many of the information processing mechanisms and biases that both hinder and facilitate therapeutic change. This paper also makes suggestions about how one could clarify the nature of schemas in terms of specific dimensions, which may provide better precision with respect to their use and function within clinical settings. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.