Adjustment and Adjustment mechanism

1. ADJUSTMENT and ADJUSTMENT
MECHANISMS

2. Individual
Social Demands
Psychological
DemandsPhysiological
Demands
Personal choices
Personal Choices
Biological Demands
Harmony between Self and Environment = Adjustment

3. Concept of Adjustment
• Adjustment is a state or condition in which the individuals
behaviour confirms to the demands of the culture or society
to which he belongs and at the same time, he feels that his
own needs have been or will be fulfilled.
• Adjustment is a compromise between the needs of the
individual and the demands of the society in which he lives.
• Adjustment is a continuous process in which a person varies
his behaviour to produce a more harmonious relationship
between himself and his environment.
• It can be conceptualized as a state of equilibrium between
the individual and his environment.

4. Adjustment: a product or process
• Adjustment can be interpreted both as process and product.
• Adjustment as a process describes and explains the ways
and means of an individual’s adaptation to his self and his
environment without reference to the quality in terms of
failure or success. It only shows how the individual copes
under changing circumstances. It is a continuous and
ongoing process which starts at birth and continues
throughout the life.
• Adjustment is a product or achievement when it is
concerned with effectiveness with which an individual can
function in changed circumstances.

5. Process of Adjustment
Stress Arousing
situations
• Life style
• Traumatic
experience
• Injury
• Illness
Coping
resources
• Defences
• Social support
Types of
Behavioural
Coping
• Task oriented
• Emotion
oriented
ADJUSTMENT+

6. Four Criteria of Adjustment
• Physical Health
• Psychological Comfort
• Work Efficiency
• Social Acceptance

7. Models of Adjustment
• Moral Model
• Biological Model
• Psychoanalytic model
• Behaviouristic model
• Humanistic-Existential model
• Indian model
• Cultural relativistic model

8. Models of Adjustment
• Moral Model: Oldest. Those who follow the
norms are said to be well adjusted and those who
violate the norms are maladjusted.
• Biological Model : It holds genetic, physiological
and biochemical factors responsible for an
individual’s adjustment. This model suggests and
advocates correction of adjustive failures or
disorders by correcting tissue defects and bodily
malfunctioning through physical therapies,
administration of drugs and surgery.

9. Models of Adjustment
• Psychoanalytic Model: A well adjusted person or mentally
healthy person is one , who is able to maintain harmony
between id, ego and superego or his biological, rational and
social selves thus engaging in healthy loving relationships
and productive work.
1. Freud view: A person is said to be well adjusted, when
his behaviour remains normal and in harmony with his self
and his environment to the extent that his ego is able to
maintain the balance between the evil designs of id and
moral ethical standards dictated by the superego. In case the
ego is not strong enough to exercise proper control over the
id or superego, maladjustment occurs.
2. Adler View: Adjustment depends upon whether one’s
efforts result in success or failure to achieve one’s goals.

10. Models of Adjustment
3. Jung view: The degree of adjustment of one’s personality
depends upon the extent to which one is successful in
actualizing oneself.
4. Otto Rank view: Well adjusted person is one person who has
the courage to be distinct, inventive and creative in various
phases of life.
5. Fromm view: Adjustment is social affair not individual. It is the
society which creates hostility and distrust in individuals.
6. Horney View: There are three attitudes of an individual: move
towards people (be dependent upon them); move against
people (hostile, rebellious); and move away from people
(withdraw completely). If an individual integrates three
attitudes, he remains well adjusted.

11. • Behaviouristic model: Behaviour is acquired or learnt. Behaviours,
whether normal or abnormal are learnt by obeying the same laws of
learning.
A well adjusted person is the one who has learnt behaviours which
help him deal successfully with life’s demands and one who fits in with
the ideals which are determined by society.
• Humanistic-Existential model: Adjustment implies our conscious effort
to cope with stress. There is emphasis on growth orientation and
positive striving.
• Indian Model: Emphasizes meditation and yogic practices to enhance
self-discipline and concentration by focussing on the flow of the
thought.
• Cultural- Relativistic model: Each culture has its own description of
what it considers normal or healthy adjustment. This notion varies from
culture to culture, significantly. The process of adjustment is not
universal in its orientation and the shape it acquires is culturally
determined.
Models of Adjustment

12. Concept of Mental Health
• Mental health is the ability to adjust
satisfactorily to the various strains of the
environment, we meet in life and mental
hygiene as the means we take to assure this
adjustment.

13. Characteristics of a Mentally Healthy Person
• Adaptability and resilient person
• Socially adaptable
• Emotionally satisfied
• Desires are in harmony with socially approved goals
• Insight into his own conduct
• Enthusiastic and reasonable
• Good habits
• Philosophy of life

14. Symptoms of Maladjustment
• Physical symptoms: Stuttering, stammering,
scratching head, biting nails, rocking feet,
restlessness, drumming with fingers and
vomiting.
• Behaviour domains: Aggression, lying, bullying,
poor school achievement, hyperactivity,
negativism, sex disturbances.
• Emotional Symptoms: Excessive worry, fear,
inferiority, hatred, extreme timidity, persistent
anxiety, conflicts and tension.

15. Detection of Maladjustment
• Observation and interview
• Bell adjustment inventory
• Anxiety scale
• Use of psychological tests

16. Adjustment Mechanisms
• Individuals adopt certain ways and means to adjust to the
environment around them, solve the problems confronting
them and deal with the anxiety including and conflicting
processes of life, using “Adjustment Mechanisms”
• An adjustment mechanism may be defined as any habitual
method of overcoming blocks, reaching goals, satisfying
motives, relieving frustration and maintaining equilibrium.

17. Adjustment mechanism (coping behaviours) may be classified as:
Adjustment by defense:
• Denial
• Repression
• Suppression
• Asceticism
• Isolation
• Displacement
• Projection
• Reaction Formation
• Undoing
• Introjection
• Regression
• Rationalization
• Sublimation
Adjustment by Escape:
• Drug Addiction
• Alchoholism
• Smoking
• Truancy
Adjustment by Illness:
• Psychosomatic disorder
• Psychoses, Neurosis
• Stress disorders