I find Schema Theory makes a lot of sense to me. The more I study it, the more it seems to overlap with the concept of self-defeating personality traits, and ultimately, Personality Disorders.

Schema Theory
The 18 Early Schemas Defined
Coping Styles
Common Coping Responses
Schema Modes

I tried to fit one PD into this model - Avoidant Personality Disorder - and came up with this (rough) concept:

Schemas (to any degree individually, bold schemas probably more significant):

3. deprivation (of empathy)
4. defectiveness/shame
5. social alienation
6. incompetency
9. failure to achieve
12. subjugation
15. pessimism

Coping responses:

overcompensation - recognition-seeking (?)
surrender - compliance (strong)
avoidance - social withdrawal, psychological withdrawal (very strong)

The thing I like about Schema Theory is that it provides multiple types of previous stressors, and multiple coping responses, that could fit together in a large number of ways - together they strongly resemble the PDs and subtypes I've read about so far. The really intriguing thing is, it could also "explain" Personality Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PD-NOS), in terms of a mix of schemas and coping mechanisms that overlaps more than one PD without fully meeting DSM diagnostic criteria for any of them.

Has anyone else studied Schema Theory or tried Schema Therapy?