Adjustment and Maladjustment

Adjustment and Maladjustment

Meaning of Adjustment

The concept of adjustment is as old as human race on earth. From the very beginning of the period of Darwin the concept was used purely in biological sense. But man as a social animal not only he is to adapt to physical demands but also adjust to social pressures. Thus the concept of adjustment is not simple as adaptation. Psychologists and scholars differ considerably in Interpreting its meaning and nature and defined adjustment as follows:

1. According to Coleman adjustment is the "outcome of the individuals attempts to deal with stress and meet his needs to maintain harmonious relationships with the environment".

2. According to Smith, "A good adjustment is one which is both realistic and satisfying. At least in the long run, it reduces to a minimum the frustrations, the tensions and anxieties which a person must endure".

3. According to Gates and Jersild the "term adjustment is a continuous process by which a person varies his behaviour to produce a more harmonious relationship between himself and environment".

4. According to C.V. Good "adjustment is the process of finding and adopting modes of behaviour suitable to the environment or the changes in the environment".

5. According to Shaffer "adjustment is the process by which a living organism maintains a balance between its needs and the circumstances that influence the satisfaction of these needs".

Psychologists have interpreted adjustment from two points of views, l.e.. Adjustment as an achievement and Adjustment as a process.

Adjustment as an achievement means how efficiently an individual can perform his duties in different circumstances.

Similarly, adjustment as a process is of major importance for psychologists, teachers and parents and describes the ways and means of an individual's adaptation to himself and his environment without reference to the quality of such adjustment or its outcome in terms of success or failure. It only shows how an individual or a group or groups of people can cope up under changing circumstances otherwise known as adjustment as a process.

Thus we see that adjustment means reaction to the demands and pressures of social environment imposed upon the individual or it is not only the process of fitting oneself into available circumstances but also the process of changing the circumstances to fit one's needs.

Characteristics of Adjustment

In the above definitions, the following characteristics have been enumerated or stated.

1. Adjustment is the process of need reduction.

2. Adjustment is the interaction between an individual and with his environment.

3. It is a harmonious relationship between person and the environment. The degree of harmony depends on two things-(a) Certain potentialities within a person and (b) Character of environment. her mo

4. It is an interaction between a person and his environment. 

5. Adjustment brings happiness, efficiency and some degree of social feelings. 

6. Adjustment depends on external and internal demands. These are social, psychological and physiological needs of an individual.

7. Adjustment maintains physiological and psychological balance that influences the satisfaction of those needs.

8. Adjustment is a satisfactory relation of a person to his environment (physical, social and psychological.)

9. Adjustment refers both to a process and to a state.

10. The state of a person refers to a harmonious relationship between him and the environment. 

Meaning of Maladjustment

Maladjustment refers to the failure of the individual to adjust to the needs of self and demands of the environment. It can be judged from the behaviour of an individual shown in a given situation. Thus the pattern of behaviour is not conformity with the social and cultural patterns or within the range of the culturally permissible patterns at home or in the school or in the community is called maladjusted behaviour. These children are unmanageable in the home, causing difficulties for the parents and siblings. They are problem creators in school, retarded in educational achievements, destructive, quarrelsome and often socially immature. These children are sometimes called emotionally disturbed or socially unacceptable or delinquent or having psychological instability and require special educational treatment in order to develop their personal and educational readjustment. Thus, maladjustment refers to a disharmony between the person and his environment.

Causes of Maladjustment

There are numerous factors in home, society and school which leads to maladjustment in addition to the physical, psychological and psycho-social factors. Let us now discuss the factors contributing to maladjustment.

1. Physique

The physique and appearance play an important role in the social development of the child. Inadequacy of the biological structure and nervous system very much influences the adjustment of the individual. Eysenck is of the view that the tendency of maladjustment is to some extent genetically determined. Physical disabilities develop a number of problems resulting in maladjustment.

2. Long Sickness and Personal Inadequacies

When a child suffers from long diseases or sickness his/her social development and academic achievement in school suffers a lot. He/She feels perplexed and frustrated. This situation leads to maladjustment. Similarly there are ambitious parents who decide the goals for their children without understanding the mental status and abilities. This may frustrate the child and he/she may commit many mistakes which ultimately affects his stability.

3. Parental attitude and Broke" Home

Today the parents fail to give the child the love, affection security, acceptance and direction that he/she needs to develop adequately. Besides, there are rapid social and economic changes taking place and the old practices are being replaced by new ones. If the parents are unable to fulfil the needs and show lack of affection then it may lead to maladjustment. Similarly children in broken homes and conflicting family, do not get the affection, security and guidance which affect the mental stability of the children.

4. Poverty and Illiteracy

It is true that due to poor home condition the parents cannot fulfil the legitimate needs of their children which may lead to maladjusted behaviour. Similarly, illiterate parents sometimes may not give proper guidance and help to the child which are certainly required for smooth running of his/her life. This may also create confusion and conflict which may lead to maladjusted behaviour.

5. Acceptance of Social Values

There exists the reciprocal relationship between a person and the society in which he/she lives. He/She must adhere to the values and norms prescribed by the society. If the social values are maintained, the individual will be given the status of a normal person. But sometimes the individual is unable to cope up with the societal values which may lead to misunderstanding and turn to maladjusted behaviour.

6. Class Differences and Religious Practices

In our country it is a fact that there are privileged and underprivileged people living with different beliefs, habits. practices and thinking. Because of these differences, differential treatment are given to the children of different communities which may consequently lead to maladjustment.

7. Teacher and Curriculum

Teachers are the pivot in the school. They can either make or mar the nation if they so desire. But it is noticed that most of the teachers in the school are ill-trained and commit blunders in handling children and their problems. Similarly the needs of the children are not met in the present day curriculum effectively and also do not cope up with the changing environment. Thus this situation creates tension and anxiety in children which leads to maladjusted behaviour.

8. Classroom Climate or Unfavourable Atmosphere in the School

Classroom climate and unfavourable atmosphere in the school may create emotional tension and problems among the students which may ultimately lead to maladjusted behaviour. In the research study it is found out that authoritarian administration affects the mental health adversely and negatively and develops the feeling of inadequacy and incompetence which ultimately results in maladjusted behaviour.

9. Rigid Discipline, adverse report, discrepancy, lack of recognition, present day examination pattern and lack of guidance, etc., also develop the maladjusted behaviour among the children.

10. Unfulfilment of Need

If the needs of the children are not gratified then it may lead to frustration which ultimately affects the pattern of adjustment. This situation may develop, maladjusted behaviour among the children.

Symptoms of Maladjustment

An adjusted individual is able to make appropriate responses to overcome frustrating situations whereas the responses of a maladjusted person is inadequate and inappropriate, unable to resolve his internal conflict, partially successful in reaching his goals, lack of insight and potentialities and leads to abnormal emotional responses. The symptoms of maladjustment are the following: 

1. Physical Symptoms: Stuttering, stammering. scratching head, facial twitching, biting nails, rocking feet and restlessness.

2. Nervours Disorders: Fears-anxiety, phobias. timidity, oversensitivity. Withdrawal-unsociability and solitariness. Depression-brooding and melancholy periods. Excitability-overactivity. apathy-lethargy, unresponsiveness and no interests.

3. Habit Disorders: Speech-stammering and defect in speech. Sleep-night terrors, walking or talking in sleep; Nail biting, indiscriminate eating, physical symptoms like allergic conditions.

4. Behaviour Disorders: Unmanageable-defiance disobedience, aggressiveness, destructiveness, cruelty, jealous behaviour, stealing and begging, truancy, violence, hyperactivity, negativism and sex disturbances. 

5. Emotional Symptoms-Excessive worry, fear. inferiority, hatred, extreme timidity, persistent anxiety. conflict and tension. 

6. Educational and Vocational Difficulties: Unusual response to school discipline, inability to concentrate and inability to keep jobs.

All these symptoms are the signs of maladjustment.

Methods of Adjustment or Defence Mechanisms or Mechanisms of Adjustment

When an individual meets with stress in the form of a conflict, frustration, anxiety or pressure, his immediate reaction is either to be aggressive or to be withdrawal type or play as a neutral role in order to reduce his mental tension and to balance in the society. These common ways which the individual use to defend or escape from conflicts is known as defence or adjustment mechanisms. The defence mechanism helps the individual to preserve him self-concept and to protect him from anxiety. Every individual uses these mental mechanisms or protective devices to some extent or the other to escape from conflict situation.

Any habitual method of overcoming blocks, reaching goals satisfying motives, relieving frustration and maintaining equilibrium is called adjustment mechanism. Thus, in order to lead a healthy, happy and satisfying life one has to learn the various ways of adjustment, i.e., coping with one's environment as effectively as possible. The methods used for keeping and restoring harmony between the individual and his environment can be grouped into two categories, l.e., direct and indirect methods.

Direct Methods of Adjustment Mechanism

This is the method by which the individual makes efforts to reduce/release his tension consciously. These methods are logical and rational in nature and employed intentionally in getting permanent solution of the problem faced by the individual in a particular situation. The following are the direct method of adjustment mechanism:

1. Removing the Difficulty/Hurdles

Here the individual tries to either remove or destroy all the barriers and difficulties which comes in his/her way to reach his goals.

2. Improving Efforts

When one finds it difficult to remove his/her barriers or solves his/her problems to cope up with the environment he/ she may attempt with a new zeal by increasing his/her efforts to overcome the difficulties. This activity develops confidence and improves his/her behaviour.

3. Change in the Working Pattern

When the individual sees that he/she is unable to remove or destroy his/her barriers, he/she thinks again about his/her approach and makes necessary changes in the means or path to achieve the goal/destination.

4. Adopting Compromising Means

For maintaining harmony between himself/herself and the environment one may change his/her direction of efforts by changing the original goal or may seek partial substitution of goal or may adopt compromising means to maintain harmony.

5. Substitution to Other Goals

In spite of the best attempts, sometimes it is found out that the individual fails to achieve his/her goal. If this situation occurs then the individual substitutes the original goals by some new goals, i.e., the person who could not become 1.A.S. Officer, may adopt the profession of teaching.

6. Withdrawal

There are many persons who do not like to face the confrontation and take risk in their life. They try to adjust by accepting defeat or withdrawing themselves from the situation to maintain balance in the environment.

7. Making Proper Choices and Decisions

When a person is confronted with two or more equally desirable goals he/she adopts the method of problem solving and starts analysing the total situation and tries to decide more rationally and logically the choices and decisions to achieve the goals.

Indirect Methods of Adjustment Mechanism

This is the method by which a person tries to seek temporary adjustment or makes an effort to reduce tension unconsciously. The following are the mental devices/ mechanisms in the process of one's adjustment to one's self and the environment.

1. Projection

Putting blame on others for one's failure is called projection. It means to project one's feelings, thoughts, and aspirations on external objects or in which the individual places the blame for his difficulties to others. By this mechanism the individual is able to direct his aggressive feelings towards others rather than towards himself. A student who has been caught in the examination for cheating may satisfy himself that others had also cheated. Similarly an individual who is lazy prefers to justify himself by declaring that he does not work because all others are not working.

2. Rationalisation

It means giving justification. This is a process of protecting our feelings of worth or self-esteem by giving desirable but untrue excuses. For example, the person who could not get the grapes, may say that 'grapes are sour' and he does not want to have them. A boy who is late for school finds many excuses, i.e., the clock was slow, breakfast was late or she failed just by two marks because the teacher had a grudge against her. A promotion is not received because the employer is biased.

3. Repression

It is a mechanism in which painful experiences, conflicts and unfulfilled desires are pushed down into our unconscious. In this way one unconsciously tries to forget the things that might make him anxious or uncomfortable. One tries to get temporary relief from the tension or anxiety by believing that the tension producing does not exist. A person who hates his father and a person who wished her mother dead, cannot express their feelings as they cause pain, shame or guilt. Such repressed desire or thoughts however do not remain hidden or permanently inhibited. They crop up nightmares, anxiety, reactions, stuttering and other nervous manifestations. Through repression a person conveniently forgets the things that might make him uncomfortable.

4. Suppression

In suppression we consciously decide to exclude an idea from our thoughts, our action and conversation whereas in repression painful and anxiety producing experiences are unconsciously and automatically excluded from the conscious thought process. Suppression is the wilful evasion of an irritating conflict, the conscious rejection of a painful experience or a deliberate attempt to forget a distasteful event.

5. Simple Denial

The easiest way of maintaining the balance of personality development is to deny the facts which could create conflict in the mind. When children are busy in play activities, if parents call them, the children will say they heard nothing. Adults are also not always prepared to admit their fault/failures frankly in their daily life. Denial helps to postpone facing a problem or a failure.

6. Compensation

This is a mechanism by which an individual tries to balance or cover up his deficiency in one field by exhibiting his strength in another field or try to overcome a failure or deficiency in one area through achieving recognition in another area. For example, an academically weak student may work hard and show his abilities in dramatics and compensate his failure, i.e., the boy who is weak in English compensates in math. Thus this is a mechanism which provides an individual with substitute satisfaction, when his actual needs are thwarted.

7. Sublimation

It is a mechanism of substitution by which an individual directs his energies and drives away from activities which are socially or morally unacceptable, towards those which are approved in order to satisfy a need. It is usually related to the sex drive, an individual who is unable to satisfy his sex needs would make up by reading romantic books, drawing romantic pictures or writing romantic poems. It is the mechanism in which all divisions of the psychic, i.e., the id, ego, and the super-ego work in concert with each other. An unmarried woman interested in children may give expression to her repressed marital urge by engaging herself in orphanage work or in any child welfare institution.

8. Identification

It is an adjustment mechanism which enables one to achieve satisfaction from the success of other people, groups or organisations. An adolescent who accepts a film star as his ideal tries to appear and act in the manner he has seen the star acting and students often identify themselves with their favourite teachers. As a result of this we adopt the mannerisms and habits of our favourite artists, teachers, friends and filmstars, in dress, in speech and in other styles of living.