International Journal of Behavioral Sciences

International Journal of Behavioral Sciences

A Phenomenological Study of the Evolutionary Roots of Schemas and Stabilizing Factors of Grief in People with Psychopathological Grief during Schema Therapy

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Saeedeh Karamloo
Marzie Hashemi
Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Khatam University, Tehran, Iran.
10.30491/ijbs.2025.525768.2236
Abstract
Introduction: Although grieving is a common response to loss, it can become pathological and destructive for some people. Understanding the significance of early maladaptive schemas, which have roots in developmental experiences and temperament, is crucial for the effective treatment of complex grief. This study aimed to conduct a phenomenological exploration of the lived experiences of individuals with psychopathological grief and to illustrate how schema therapy techniques were perceived by them during treatment.
Method: This study employed a qualitative phenomenological design. The statistical population consisted of individuals diagnosed with psychopathological grief, from which three bereaved clients were selected through convenience sampling. Each participant underwent schema therapy during 10 one-hour sessions. Data collection involved diagnostic interviews based on DSM-5 criteria, open-ended semi-structured therapeutic interviews, and observational notes. All interviews were transcribed verbatim within 48 hours and analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step method. Triangulation and researcher consensus were used to enhance reliability and validity of findings.
Results: characterized by control and emotional deprivation, early life experiences such as unmet emotional needs and unresolved grief, and emotional temperament were marked by anxiety and inhibition. Participants reported that schema therapy facilitated greater emotional awareness, challenged maladaptive patterns, and fostered healthier coping strategies. These effects were described qualitatively through clients’ narratives rather than measured quantitatively.
Conclusion: The findings emphasize the importance of examining the transformational roots of schemas and the stabilizing factors of grief, highlighting the effectiveness of schema therapy in treating psychopathological grief and correcting the associated schemas. In practical terms, these results suggest that schema therapy can be applied as a clinical intervention to improve emotional awareness, restructure maladaptive schemas, and prevent recurrence of grief-related symptoms.
Keywords
Psychopathological Grief, Evolutionary Roots, Schemas, Phenomenology, Bereaved
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International Journal of Behavioral Sciences
Volume 19, Issue 3
Autumn 2025
Pages 132-139