Adjustment In Psychology

Hugh Walpole once said: “Happiness comes from… some curious adjustment to life.”

Adjustment may be defined as a process of altering behavior to reach a harmonious relationship with the environment. When people say they are in an “adjustment period” they typically mean they are going through a process of change and are searching for some level of balance or acceptance with the environment, others, or themselves.

A person with a well-adjusted personality is prepared to fit into various roles that are expected of the status assigned to him in a particular environment. His needs are also thus satisfied in accordance with the social needs. The two important points of view in which adjustment is interpreted by psychologists are ‘Adjustment as a process’

A toddler is usually dependent on others for satisfaction of his needs. But as he gradually grows with age, he learns to take control of his own needs. His interaction with the external environment is the basis of his adjustment. From a big blooming world of confusion that a child cannot differentiate when he is born, he slowly matures and learns through the process of perception, sensation and conception, to articulate the details of his environment.

Adjustment as an achievement, on the other hand, determines how effectively one conducts and performs his duties in different situations and circumstances. For the progress and well-being of any nation, it needs efficient and well-adjusted men. But if adjustment is interpreted in terms of achievement, there has to be a set criteria to judge the quality of the same.

The concept of adjustment can be explained further as a relationship between an individual and the environment. This can be seen by the roles or position that every individual holds in his social relations. His plays it in such a way, so as to attain maximum fulfillment of his needs and thus achieve maximum satisfaction. If he does not play his role properly, the he may get frustrated and his needs might not be

Normal Adjustment is one when a relationship between a person and his environment is in accordance to established norms then that relationship is reflected as normal adjustment. A child obeying his parents, who is not overly stubborn; who studies regularly is considered adjusted.

A problem behavior or popular speaking maladjustment is considered as Abnormal Adjustment. Maladjustment occurs when the relationship between a person and his environment is not according to established standards or norms. A delinquent youngster adjusts with his environment but he is a maladjusted child because he is constantly violating certain moral