THE MODEL OF CYCLIC MALADAPTIVE PATTERN A ND STRUCTURAL-ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL-BEHAVIOR (CMP SASB)/

Interpersonal processes between therapist and patient are the means to achieve lasting psychological changes. The model of Cyclic Maladaptiv e Pattern and Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (CMP/SASB) is rec ommended. It successfully operationalizes patients' pathology, the tre atment process and its outcome (PTO-congruence). The prototypical cycl ic maladaptive relationship patterns of a patient are described akin t o a story. The person's interpersonal expectations, his/her behavior t oward others, their behavior toward him/her and his/her beliefs about him/herself determine each other. By translating these into SASB terms , the CMP categories are recorded more generally and comparably. SASB classifies all interpersonal behaviors on three levels of relating to self and others (transitive focus, intransitive focus and introject fo cus). The interpersonal space of each focus consists of two basic dime nsions, affiliation-hostility and enmeshment (control/submission vs. g ranting or taking autonomy). This is explained by a few clinical examp les. Typical, favorable and unfavorable, communication forms are descr ibed. The level of introject inherent in both models signifies one's w ay of treating oneself based on internalized relationship experiences. Personality disorders are considered as normal psychological reaction s to traumatizing surroundings. Later, these beliefs are hard to extin guish and, as self-fulfilling prophecy, they prevent new, more benign relationship experiences.