The development of an idiographic measure of self-schemas: An illustration of the construction and use of self-scenarios

This article describes self-schema as a theoretically integrative construct, reviews the literature, and presents an assessment approach called self-scenarios. Self-scenarios represent an idiographic measure of dysfunctional schemas, defined as cognitive-affective-motoric structures. They depict highly distressing events that consist of a stimulus situation and cognitive, affective, and motoric responses, which reflect schematic structure. They are scaled in a Likert-type format on the following parameters: frequency, preoccupation, accessibility, alternative thinking, self-efficacy, self-view, interpersonal-view, and chronicity. This article also includes results regarding the psychometric properties of self-scenarios and their use in a single-subject outcome study of a time-limited psychotherapy.