Characteristics of good adjustment in Psychology
What do
you mean by adjustment? Discuss the characteristics of good adjustment.
What is Adjustment? Characteristics of Good Adjustment Explained
The concept of adjustment
The concept
of adjustment is as old as the origin of man in this planet. In English, the
two terms—‘Adjustment’ and ‘Adaptation’ are used to denote almost the same
meaning. Yet there is a slight difference between the two. Adjustment stands
for co-existence while Adaptation speaks of assimilation. Adjustment or
co-existence is the main character of the animal world. The concept of
adjustment found its culmination in the theory of evolution enunciated by the
great scientist Charles Darwin. He had shown that in order to make adjustment
with the environment the biological world has undergone evolutionary changes.
The animals which could make successful adjustment with their environment
became able to maintain their existence and those who failed, extinguished.
(Thus, adjustment is a process which determines existence However, the process
may be accepted as a normal and natural one for the lower category of animals,
but the process is not so easy and natural one for the human being who has
reached the culminating stage of its evolution. For the animals, the question
of adjustment may be taken as a natural selection, but this cannot be accepted
as easily in case of man it becomes necessary to know what really is meant by
adjustment for man.
The
biologists have explained human behaviour with the help of nerve functioning—an
explanation which has been accepted by all. The psychologist, however, have
analysed human behaviour from different angle. According to them all human
actions and behaviour are always purpose and behind this purpose behaviour
there ar. some internal needs which acts as its root. Need means a feeling of
want, which are unlimited and innumerable in number. Some of these needs are
innate while some others are simply acquired needs. Man acquires his needs from
the experience of his life. Hence the psychologists, instead of dividing these
needs in terms of their number, divided them on the basis of their objectives.
Some of the psychologists have divided these needs into two broad classes-the
biological need and the psychological need. Some other psychologists have
divided these needs into three broad divisions-the organic need, the mental
need and the social need.
The psychologists who prefer to classify
needs into two broad divisions, have combined man's mental need and social need
into one, the psychological need. To satisfy his biological need man he has in
a way so that his primary needs like those of food, clothing, shelter and
reproduction are fulfilled and the satisfaction of these needs helps his
physical development and maintains his physical health. On the other hand while
fulfilling his psychological needs he virtually fulfils his mental and social
needs which also help him to maintain his mental health. Man satisfies his
needs with the life-environment and each demand has a definite goal reaching
where he gets the complete satisfaction of his wants. Hence to reach this goal
he acts continuously stage after stage and in each stage he is always making
adjustment between his demand and his environment through his own behaviour.
The person who can make this adjustment perfectly can keep the balance of his
emotions intact and can also have a proper mental and physical growth. Thus at
every stage of our human life we are making adjustment with our environment.
Meaning of Adjustment
Hence
the great psychologist Wolman, in his famous work-the Dictionary of Behavioural
Science has defined adjustment as "a harmonious relationship with the
environment involving the ability to satisfy most of one's needs and meet most
of the demands both physical and social that are put upon one."
Defining adjustment the great psychologists
Gates and Jersild also wrote that-"Not only must a person be in an
environment which enables him to satisfy his basic needs satisfactorily and be
able to satisfaction of another need impossible, but he must also satisfy his
manage his life so that satisfaction of one need does not make the needs in
such a way as to avoid interfering with fulfilment of the legitimate need of
others.
Two Perspectives on Adjustment
The psychologists have explained
adjustment from two standpoints. First, adjustment is success and secondly,
adjustment is a process. making adjustment and 'Adjustment is a process' means
the means "Adjustment is success or perfection means the qualitative limit
of the outer environmental needs) To make it more clear it can be said or
method with which the individual tries to make adjustment with that Adjustment
is success means the ability of the individual to make successful adjustment in
different conditions, different environments and different problematic
situations. In fact we always need persons capable of good adjustment in every
sphere of education and other social activities. On the other hand adjustment
is a process means the way or means to make adjustment (It is very much
important for all alike the psychologists, the teachers and the guardians. If
we are to study adjustment as a process then we will have to take the child's
growth longitudinally from his very birth for our study. Shortly after his birth
the child remains absolutely helpless and to satisfy all his needs he has to
take the help of others) As he grows older he gains the power of control and
this power of control makes him fit to interact with his environment. This
interaction is adjustment. As he grows older he comes to realise this
interaction with the various types of environment and gradually he gains his
power of self- control, understands his environment and starts to react as per
expectations this is adjustment and here intelligence plays a vital role
always. When the inner needs of the child clashes with his external
expectations he has three alternatives before him to make bring some change in
it.
Characteristics
of Good Adjustment
First to obstruct the growth of his inner
demands or to bring some change in it. Secondly, to change the environment to
fulfil his needs. Thirdly, to free himself from the conflicting situation with the
help of some techniques or mental process and thus to maintain the balance of
his personality.
It is not at all possible to find out some
standing conditions that will speak for the all-time best and successful
adjustment process. This is because these conditions depend essentially on the
cultural and value judgements in accordance with time. Both the culture and
according to time, values are always dynamic and naturally the conditions for
successful adjustment are also not fixed but a changing one. Yet, there are
seven conditions which may be considered as necessary for a good and successful
adjustment. These conditions are: First, Physical health: The individual must
try to remain free from the common ailments like headache indigestion, ulcer,
lack of appetite and the like type of diseases which often happens due to the
psychological reasons and deteriorates physical health
Secondly,
mental fitness: For successful and good adjustment the individual must always
keep himself free forms any unnecessary mental sickness. Fatigueless,
frustrations, suspicious mentality etc. are some of the mental diseases found
which he must always remain free and if these diseases are there he must
undergo immediate mental treatment.
Thirdly, Efficiency of work: When the
individual becomes able to make successful use of his power then only the
adjustment may be called a good adjustment. This type of individual is
generally accepted in both social and working environment
(Fourthly,
Social support: Each and every man wants to get support from his society. Hence
he obeys the social values, social norms and the ideals of the society so that
the society gives him the necessary support this is the characteristic of the
person having good adjustment. When the person uses unsocial or antisocial
means to satisfy his demands that is the sign of maladjustment.
Fifthly,
to become reasonable about one's own self and his environment is the sign of
being practical. A person, who is both mentally and physically fit, sees his
environment and his situation properly. On the other hand the mentally and
physically unfit person always, while observing a situation, gives predominance
to his emotion. This is extremely harmful for any successful and good adjustment
powers
Sixthly,
self-consciousness is the principal condition for good adjustment. The
self-conscious man is always aware of his own and weaknesses, his own follies
and defects and always shapes his working in accordance with that). A
self-conscious person is always conscious about how the other people see him.
We often fail to get what we desire. A person having self-consciousness and
good adjustment power always never feels for not getting something which he
desired. He accepts the verdict of the situation normally.
Lastly, to maintain a balanced life is the
other condition of good adjustment. Our life has many demands. But to keep a
balance among these demands is essential. We must have also an ideal and
healthy philosophy of life)
