seminar

1. Mahitha G
Natural science
Adjustment and Maladjustment

2. Introduction

3. • Herbert spencer : “life is the continuous
adjustment of the internal to the external
relations.”
• A person adapts himself to environment , to
overcome frustration through adjustment.
• It starts from birth of the child and continues
till his death.
• It is modified and affected by individual’s
experienceslearning play a significant role in
aiding adjustment.

5. Meaning & definition
• Symonds [1933] : adjustment is a satisfactory
relation of an organisation to its environment.
• Ruth Strong [1949] : a process and not a state.
• James Drever [1952] : the modification to
compensate for special conditions.
• Coleman and James C [1956] : the outcome of
individual attempts to deal with stress and meet his
needs, also his effort to maintain harmonious
relationship with the environment.

6. • Shaffer, L.S. [1961] : a process by which a living
organism maintain a balance between its needs
and the circumstances that influence the
satisfaction of these needs.
• Arkoff [1968] : is the interaction between a
person and his environment. An individual is
adjusted if he is adjusted to himself and to his
environment.
• Geuner , B.Vonhaller : we can think of
adjustment as psychological survival in much ;
the same way as biologist uses the term to
describe physiological survival.

7. Characteristics…
• Helps to keep balance b/w our needs and
capacity to meet these needs.
• It implies changes in our thinking and way of
life to the demands of the situation.
• Gives us the ability and strength to bring
desirable changes in the state of our
environment.
• It is physiological as well as psychological.
• It is multidimensional.
• Brings us happiness and contentment.

8. Nature of balanced adjustment
• Good physical health.
• Emotionally balanced, free from conflicts and
frustrations.
• Wors efficiency or full use of one’s
occupational skills.
• Socially acceptable behaviour.
• Competence in interpersonal relations.
• School adjustment.

9. Characteristics of a well adjusted
person…
• Adequate philosophy of life.
• Awareness of one’s assets and limitations.
• Balanced level of aspiration – neither too high nor too
low.
• Satisfaction of basic needs.
• Rational and appreciative aptitude.
• Flexible behaviour.
• Strong will to face challenges.
• Realistic perception of life.
• Respect for oneself and others.
• Homely feeling with the environment.

10. Adjustment as a Psychological
Process..
• As a process – is major interest to
psychologist, to understand a person & his
behaviour.
• The way one tries to adjust himself to his
external environment @ any time  depends
on interaction b/w biological factors in growth
& social experiece.

11. Maladjustment…
• “the degree of disharmony b/w the individual
& the environment.
• Results from frustration caused by non-
satisfaction of the needs.
• When we are unable to provide situations in
school which enable the child to satisfy his
needs – leads to maladjustment.

12. contd…
• Herbert sorenson : “ A person is not in
harmony with his work if it is too hard or too
easy.
if it is too hard or if the student has too
little capacity excessive failure is experienced.
if it is too easy or if the student had too
high ability for his work  the work is dull and
dreading.

13. Symptoms…
Committee on Maladjusted Children [U.K.] 1955 : reported;
A. Nervous disorders
• Fear: anxiety,phobias,timidity,oversensityvity.
• Depression
• Apathy etc.,
B. Habit disorders
• Speech : stammering,speech defect.
• Sleep : sleep walking or talking
• Movements : nail biting,rocking
• Feeding : vomiting,indiscriminate eating
• Nervous pains & paralysis : headache
• Physical symptoms : asthma & other allergic conditions

14. Cont….
C. Behaviour disorders
• Unmanagable : dis obedience, refusal to go to
school.
• Aggressiveness : cruelty
D. Organic disorders
• Head injuries,central tumour,epilepsy & cholera.
E. Educational and Vocational difficulties
• Unusual response to school discipline
• Inability to concentrate
• Inability to keep jobs

15. Reference…
• Essential of Educational Psychology –
J.C.Agarwal ; 1994.
• Educational Psychology – Dr. G. Aruna Mohan;
2003.