Examining the Scope and Concept of Schema: Should We Look Beyond Cognitive Structures?

Traditionally, cognitive therapy and the cognitive-behavior therapies have focused on three levels of cognitive phenomenon: automatic thoughts, cognitive distortion, and underlying assumptions. Underlying assumptions constitute the general notion of what is referred to as "schema." Schemas have traditionally served as sort of a template for the way in which an individual views him/herself, the world, and others. In addition, a proposed model has also appeared in the professional literature that includes memory structures and multimodal representations of stored information that serve to explain the concept of schema in general. Recently, some controversial research has raised the question as to whether separate memory cell networks in the body may play an additional role beyond cognitive structures. This article reviews some of the research on the role of neuropeptides in the process of memory and emotions and raises the question of whether or not an expansion of the concept of schema should be considered. The article also discusses what scientific support exists at this time and whether we can draw any clinical implications from such a theory. The article also discusses the impact of this theory on the view of schema resistance and the role of cognitive therapy, particularly as it relates to conditions involving trauma.