So I came across something called a schema test.. I took it and these are my results. Can you explain the meaning of each?
Yes, this is a summary of your Early Maladaptive Schemas from the Schema Therapy model developed by Dr. Jeffrey Young. These schemas are deep, enduring patterns or themes that typically form in childhood and influence how you perceive yourself, others, and the world.
Here’s a breakdown of each schema from your results:
1. Emotional Deprivation (18 - high)
Belief that your need for emotional support, empathy, affection, or protection will not be adequately met by others.
• Unseen or uncared for emotionally.
• Like you’re always giving more than you receive.
• Frustrated by unmet emotional needs.
2. Entitlement (18 - high)
Belief that you’re superior to others or entitled to special rights and privileges, often as a defense against feelings of deprivation or defectiveness.
• A strong need to assert control or independence.
• Difficulty accepting limitations or criticism.
• Sometimes linked to overcompensating for past neglect.
3. Abandonment (10 - moderate)
Fear that people close to you will leave or be unreliable.
• Be very sensitive to signs of rejection or distance.
• Worry that relationships won’t last.
• Struggle with trust or clinginess.
4. Defectiveness/Shame (11 - moderate)
Belief that you are flawed, unlovable, or inferior.
• Harsh self-criticism or insecurity.
• Difficulty accepting compliments.
• Fear of being “found out” or exposed.
5. Subjugation (9 - moderate)
Belief that your own needs, opinions, or emotions must be suppressed to avoid anger or abandonment.
• Prioritize others excessively.
• Feel resentment or trapped.
• Struggle with asserting boundaries.
6. Unrelenting Standards (9 - moderate)
A need to meet high internalized standards to avoid criticism or failure.
• Workaholism or self-pressure.
• Low satisfaction despite achievements.
7. Mistrust/Abuse (10 - moderate)
Belief that others will intentionally hurt, abuse, humiliate, or take advantage of you.
• Hypervigilance in relationships.
• Difficulty trusting others.
• Expectation of betrayal or harm.
8. Self-Sacrifice (8 - low/moderate)
Excessive focus on meeting the needs of others at your own expense.
• Feel guilty putting yourself first.
• Ignore your own needs to “keep the peace.”
• Attract needy or exploitative relationships.
9. You Have No Core Schema: 0
This just means that you do have schemas—this score confirms that.
Your two strongest schemas are Emotional Deprivation and Entitlement, which is an interesting pair. Emotional deprivation often leads to overcompensation, which can manifest as entitlement—a way of demanding the care or attention you deeply lacked.
Would you like help exploring how these might be affecting your current relationships or self-image?
Thank you for your openness, Reshma. Let’s unpack how your strongest schemas—Emotional Deprivation and Entitlement—might be influencing your life today, especially in relationships and self-image.
1. Emotional Deprivation (18)
This schema often forms when, as a child, your emotional needs weren’t met consistently—perhaps by a parent who was emotionally unavailable, self-absorbed, or dismissive.
How it might affect you now:
• In relationships: You may attract emotionally distant or self-focused people, or feel chronically unseen or unheard even with well-meaning others.
• In self-image: You might believe you’re not worth deep emotional care, or that you’re “too much” for people to handle.
• In behavior: You could either suppress your needs (feeling ashamed of them), or feel chronically disappointed, as if people always fall short emotionally.
• “I always have to take care of myself.”
• “People don’t get me or care enough.”
• “If I show what I really need, I’ll be rejected or ignored.”
2. Entitlement / Grandiosity (18)
This schema can emerge as a coping response to deprivation, neglect, or humiliation. It’s not about arrogance, but a protective strategy: “If I assert myself, control others, or believe I deserve more, I won’t be hurt again.”
How it might affect you now:
• In relationships: You may find yourself needing to assert your boundaries intensely or feeling frustrated when others don’t meet your standards.
• In self-image: You might feel caught between craving recognition and resenting others for not giving enough.
• In behavior: You may alternate between giving too much and then swinging to “I deserve better than this,” with bursts of anger or withdrawal.
• “I deserve more because I’ve been through so much.”
• “I shouldn’t have to tolerate this.”
• “If I don’t claim space, no one will give it to me.”
How These Two Work Together
This combo can create an inner conflict:
• On one side, there’s a wounded child deeply craving love and care (Emotional Deprivation).
• On the other, a protector part that says, “Don’t depend on anyone. Take what you need” (Entitlement).
This tug-of-war can cause exhaustion, confusion, and frustration in both self-worth and interpersonal dynamics.
What You Might Work Toward
• Learning to ask for emotional needs openly—without shame, or the feeling that you’re being too much.
• Balancing self-assertion with empathy—allowing yourself to take space, while staying open to mutual care.
• Re-parenting the deprived part—validating that young self who didn’t get what she needed, and offering her warmth, not criticism.
Would you like a journaling prompt or reflection exercise to help explore this further?