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Interactive reference

The two-leg model

For diagrams, interactive mode maps, and couples views. Same ideas power the schema program and toolkit — this page is the shared vocabulary.

The architecture

Reference diagram for platform visualizations and psychoeducation. Source: E. Roediger, dimensional two-leg mode model.

Dimensional two-leg mode model (conceptual)Top: integrated MWe modes with flexible balancing. Two branches: attachment on the left (blue, other-directed) and assertiveness on the right (red, self-directed). Center band: four basic emotions from fear and sadness through disgust and anger. Side labels: critic toward self and critic toward others. Bottom: three linked coping styles — submission, withdrawing, dominance — with arrows from emotions and upward dashed arrows suggesting therapeutic movement toward integration.“MWe” — integrated modesHealthy Adult + Contented Childflexibly balancing attachment & assertivenessFlexible balanceAttachment“Blue leg” — other-directedLoving connection · trust · belongingWe · pro-social sideAssertiveness“Red leg” — self-centeredAutonomy · control · boundariesMe · healthy limitsFour basic emotions (child modes)Fear / SadnessDisgust / Angerattachment threat ⇄ assertiveness threatCritic (self)Critic (other)Three coping styles (maladaptive)SubmissionCompliant surrenderFollow / fawnWithdrawingDetached protector / self-sootherFlight · freeze · numbDominanceOvercompensatorFight · controlDashed curves: conceptual path back toward MWe in therapy — not automatic.Psychoeducation only · see Learn article for definitions
After E. Roediger — dimensional two-leg mode model. Refined for screen and print; not a clinical score.
                        "MWe"
                  ┌─────────────────┐
                  │  Integrated     │
                  │  Modes          │
                  │ Healthy Adult + │
                  │ Contented Child │
                  │ flexibly        │
                  │ balancing ⇌     │
                  └────────┬────────┘
                           │
          ┌────────────────┴────────────────┐
          │                                 │
   ┌──────▼──────┐                  ┌───────▼──────┐
   │ ATTACHMENT  │◄────────────────►│ASSERTIVENESS │
   │(other-      │                  │(self-centered│
   │ directed)   │                  │ "red leg")   │
   │ "blue leg"  │                  └──────────────┘
   └─────────────┘
   "We" side:                        "Me" side:
   Loving connection                 Autonomy
   Willing to trust                  Sense of Control
   Other-directedness                Self-centredness
   Pro-social side                   Anti-social side

           4 negative Basic Emotions ("Child modes"):
                  ┌──────────────────────────┐
                  │  Fear / Sadness ⇔ Disgust/Anger  │
                  └─────────────┬────────────┘
                                │
        Critic modes            │           Critic modes
        (about self) ◄──────────┤──────────► (about others)
                                │
           3 Behaviour styles ("Coping modes"):
   ┌────────────┐      ┌────────────┐      ┌────────────┐
   │ SUBMISSION │  ⇔   │WITHDRAWING │  ⇔   │ DOMINANCE  │
   │(self-      │      │(passive /  │      │(Overcompen-│
   │ sacrifice) │      │ active)    │      │ sation)    │
   │Follow /    │      │Freeze/     │      │  (Fight)   │
   │Surrender   │      │  Flight    │      │            │
   └────────────┘      └────────────┘      └────────────┘

Plain language breakdown

Goal state "MWe": Healthy functioning integrates both needs — "Me" (assertiveness, autonomy) and "We" (attachment, connection) — flexibly balanced by Healthy Adult and Contented Child modes.

Two core needs in the model
NeedDirectionQualities
Attachment ("blue leg")Other-directed / WeLoving connection, trust, pro-social, belonging
Assertiveness ("red leg")Self-centered / MeAutonomy, self-efficacy, healthy boundaries

Four basic emotions (child modes): These fire when either core need is frustrated — fear/sadness with attachment threat (vulnerable child); disgust/anger with assertiveness threat (angry child).

Critic modes: Internal critical voices — directed at self (punitive/demanding critic) or at others (projected criticism, blame, contempt).

Three coping styles
StyleMode nameNervous systemBehavior
SubmissionCompliant surrenderFawn / freezeSelf-sacrifice, people-pleasing, follow
WithdrawingDetached protector / self-sootherFlight / freezeEmotional numbing, avoidance, distraction
DominanceOvercompensatorFightAggression, control, entitlement, overachievement

Mode map structure

Source: Roediger (2012), figures 6.2 and 6.3. Vertical axis: functional/integrated (top) to dysfunctional/disintegrated (bottom). Horizontal: internalizing/submissive (left) to externalizing/dominant (right). Avoidant sits bottom center.

The interactive coordinate template below matches the reference diagram on Schema profile and the YSQ-R clinical report (when you are signed in, the same template can show your YSQ-R–derived mode instrument scores). Use the ASCII outline after it for a text-only checklist.

Coordinate mode map template (conceptual)Vertical axis from dysfunctional and disintegrated at the bottom to functional and integrated at the top. Horizontal spectrum along the bottom from internalizing and submissive on the left, through avoidant in the center, to externalizing and dominant on the right. Top row: four integrative mode placeholders. Middle: vulnerable and angry child on the left, tension and stress in the center, parent-mode beliefs toward self and others on the right. Bottom row: four maladaptive coping mode placeholders. Solid arrows show flows into tension and from tension into coping. Dashed arrows suggest possible movement back toward integrative modes during therapy.FunctionalintegratedDysfunctionaldisintegratedInternalizing / submissiveAvoidantExternalizing / dominantFlexible changeIntegrative modes (Healthy Adult & Happy Child)CooperationSelf-controlSelf-careSelf-efficacyChild modes (emotions)Parent modes (beliefs)Vulnerable Childattachment · fear / sadnessAngry Childassertiveness · disgust / angerToward selfpunitive / demanding criticToward othershostile / entitled criticTension/ stressMaladaptive coping modesCompliantsurrenderDetachedprotectorDetachedself-sootherOvercompensator/ dominanceSolid: typical activation flow (conceptual)Dashed: possible reintegration in therapy
Coordinate mode map — region order for screen readers
RegionRole
Integrative rowCooperation, self-control, self-care, self-efficacy
Child modesVulnerable child; angry child
CenterTension and stress hub
Parent modesBeliefs toward self; beliefs toward others
Coping rowCompliant surrender; detached protector; detached self-soother; overcompensator
Coordinate mode map — teaching reference after Roediger (couples module style). Fill the interactive mode map with personal examples; this template is not scored from the YSQ-R.
INTEGRATIVE MODES (top row):
  - Cooperation
  - Self-control
  - Self-care
  - Self-efficacy

DYSFUNCTIONAL BELIEFS — PARENT MODES:
  - Directed to self (Punitive/Demanding Critic)
  - Directed to others (projected critic)

BASIC EMOTIONS — CHILD MODES:
  - Vulnerable Child (Attachment) → Fear, Sadness, Panic, Loneliness
  - Angry Child (Assertiveness) → Disgust, Anger, Entitlement

TENSION / STRESS (central trigger node)

MALADAPTIVE COPING MODES:
  - Compliant Surrender (left — internalizing)
  - Detached Protector (center-left — avoidant)
  - Detached Self-soother (center-right — avoidant)
  - Overcompensator / Dominance (right — externalizing)

Filled example (couples context, Figure 6.3 style)

Illustrative formulation snippet for training and product copy — not a real case.

Cooperation:       Accepting husband's dates; making the best of it
Self-control:      Getting detached from her anger
Self-care:         Soothing and distracting herself; making the waiting time pass
Self-efficacy:     Making clear appointments with her husband

Vulnerable Child:  Panic, sadness, feeling hurt, lonely (Abandonment)
Angry Child:       Anger at being rejected (Entitlement)

Parent mode (self): "You're not important. Don't make a fuss about everything." (Punitiveness)
Parent mode (other): "If you don't fight for your rights, he'll walk over you. Make a scene."

Compliant Surrender:     "I have to surrender to be lovable. Having sex with husband to please him."
Detached Protector:      "Thinking about her job and feeling nothing while having sex."
Detached Self-soother:   "Binge drinking and excessive shopping."
Overcompensator:         "Starting arguments. Yelling and screaming. Bossing her husband."

Platform implementation notes

  • Interactive mode map: Users fill in their own map after YSQ results; optional schema-informed suggestions; show both axes; color code blue (attachment/submission), red (assertiveness/dominance), gray (avoidant), teal/green for integrated Healthy Adult / Contented Child. The same page and clinical report also surface the two-leg and coordinate reference SVGs above for orientation.
  • Couples dyadic map: Side-by-side maps with arrows for triggering patterns (e.g. compliant surrender → overcompensator). Aligns with /share/schema-ysq-couple/ dyadic profile.
  • Visualization priority: (1) Two-leg model, (2) personal mode map, (3) dyadic mode map.

Maintainer source document: docs/features/SCHEMA_THERAPY_PSYCHOEDUCATION_CONTENT.md

Learn overview

Official YSQ-3 long/short forms and other schema inventories are copyrighted by the Schema Therapy Institute and sold through their order center. Theory and inventory overview: Schema Therapy Institute. This portal uses a Rasch YSQ-R style implementation for self-reflection—not those licensed forms.