This document discusses adjustment and maladjustment from a psychological perspective. It defines adjustment as the process by which living organisms maintain balance between their needs and environmental influences. Adjustment can be viewed as an achievement or as a process. Maladjustment occurs when an individual is unable to successfully satisfy biological, psychological or social needs. Causes of maladjustment include family issues, personal factors, problems at school, poor teacher relationships, and negative peer influences. Signs of maladjustment include withdrawn behavior, anxiety, aggression, and delinquency. Preventive measures include encouragement, praise, responsibility, entertainment, counseling, relaxation techniques, and moral education. The role of teachers is to create a supportive classroom environment and develop students' self-esteem.

1. Course-XI (1.4.11) Optional
Guidance and Counseling
Unit-III
ADJUSTMENT &
MALADJUSTMENT
Presented by-
Khiran Suba
Assistant Professor
Shree Ramakrishna BT College, Darjeeling.

2. CONCEPT OF ADJUSTMENT
• What is “Adjustment”?
The term “adjustment” originates from the
biological term “adaptation”. Biologists used the
term “adaptation” strictly for the physical
demands of the environment, but psychologists
use the term “adjustment” for varying conditions
of social or inter-personal relations in the society.
• Psychologists have viewed adjustment from
two important perspectives—“adjustment as an
achievement”, and “adjustment as a process”.

3. • Adjustment as achievement:
„Adjustment as achievement‟ means how efficiently
an individual can perform his duties (Study, skill,
work etc.) under different circumstances.
• Adjustment as process:
„Adjustment as a process‟ lays emphasis on the
process by which an individual adjusts to his
external environment.
Definition of adjustment:
According to the Shaffer, L.S. “Adjustment is the
process by which living organism maintain a
balance between his needs and the circumstances
that influence the satisfactions of these needs.

4. CRITERIA OF GOOD ADJUSTMENT
• To set criteria to judge the quality of
adjustment. Four criteria have been evolved by
psychologists to judge the adequacy of
adjustment-
• Physical health
• Psychological comfort
• Work efficiency, and
• Social acceptance

5. Characteristics of a well adjusted person:
• A healthy and well-adjusted person should possess/display some
observable behavioral patterns. These behavioral patterns must be
according to the social expectations of an individual which are as
follows:
 Maturity in thinking.
 Emotional balance.
 Warm and understanding towards others.
 Free from tension due to routine events.
 Independent in decision making.
• Elements in adjustment:
There are certain prime elements for fulfillment of needs necessary for
healthy adjustment of a person.
• Satisfaction of needs.
• No obstacle in achieving needs.
• Strong motives in realizing needs.
• Feasible geographical atmosphere to fulfill
needs.

6. What is Maladjustment?
• „Maladjustment‟ is a process whereby an
individual is unable to satisfy his personal needs
biological, psychological or social needs
successfully and establishes an imbalance
between and expectation of the society resulting
in the disturbance of psycho-equilibrium.

7. Characteristics of a Maladjusted Person:
As a school teacher, We notice a few such maladjusted students in classrooms. At
times, we even thought of seriously the reasons for their maladjusted behaviors. There
are numerous reasons in and out of the school which create frustration, that lead to
maladjustment. Therefore analyzing the symptoms one by one.
1. Withdrawn and timid
2. Shy and self-conscious
3. Fearful
4. Anxious
5. Delusions
6. Extremely aggressive
7. Tension
8. High aspirations
9. Feeling of inferiority
10. Emotionally disturbed
11. Isolated
12. Sensitivity
13. Temper-tantrums

8. CAUSES OF MALADJUSTMENT
We can classify the causes of maladjusted
behavior of adolescents under five main
categories.
1. Family
(a) Social
(b) Economic
(c) Psychological
2. Personal
3. School
4. Teachers
5. Peer Group

9. Causes of Maladjustment
1. Unhealthy home environment.
2. Heredity causes.
3. Poverty.
4. Environment causes.
5. Faulty method of teaching.
6. Strict Discipline.
7. Lack of equipments.
8. Lack of guidance and counseling.
9. Lack of recreational facilities.
10. Mass media.
11. Social laws and bindings.
12. Bad company / neighborhood.

10. Problems of a Maladjusted Person
Some problems of maladjusted persons are
given below-
1. Anxiety.
2. Withdrawal.
3. Aggression.
4. Delinquency.
5. Drug addiction.
6. Low achievement.

11. PREVENTIVE MEASURES OF MALADJUSTMENT
1. Proper encouragement: Parents and teachers should speak daily with
the child about his daily activities. So the child can begin to learn the
principles of socialization.
2. Proper appreciation: Parents and teachers should directly praise the
child for the good things he or she has done.
3. Delegating responsibility: Parents and teachers should assign some
responsibility to the child. This responsibility should evolve tasks which the
child perceives as real and important.
4. Provision of entertainment: Provide entertainment facilities like parks,
sports clubs, amusement places, theaters, museum to children. We should
encourage the child to engage in playing with his peers.
5. Testing: Refer the child for special education testing. In some instances,
maladjusted children are eligible for special education services.

12. 6. Pattern of relaxation: The teacher should set a pattern of calmness.
Yoga, meditation, stress management courses plays very important roles
in preventing maladjustment.
7. Informing progress: Teacher should inform the child of the progress
he is making.
8. Timely help: Teacher should help the child when he needs it and not
only when he asks for it. If the teacher is wise enough to know when the
child requires help, he may be able to help him avoid many traumatic
failure experiences.
9. Moral Education: School should provide value education through
various methods. Self confidence, co-operation, caring and sharing are the
values that can be inculcated through co- curricular programmes.
10. Guidance and counseling: If the teacher works as a guide and
counselor for parents and children, many of the negative situations can be
turned into positive ones which are beneficial to students.

13. The role of School, teacher in student adjustment
1. Provide and maintain a classroom environment
where the children feel free to express themselves.
2. Develop in youngsters a sense self respect and
self-esteem by complements for work well done.
3. Accept the individual differences of students.
4. Develops comprehensive cumulative records by
collecting information through classroom sitting.
5. Practices good mental health.
6. Participate and contributes to the effectiveness of
case conferences.
7. Teacher himself should adopt democratic and
respective behaviour.