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Adjustment (psychology)

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In psychology, adjustment is that condition of a person who is able to adapt to changes in their physical, occupational, and social environment. In other words, adjustment refers to the behavioural process of balancing conflicting needs, or needs challenged by obstacles in the environment. Humans and animals regularly adjust to their environment. For example, when they are stimulated by their physiological state to seek food, they eat (if possible) to reduce their hunger and thus adjust to the hunger stimulus. Adjustment disorder occurs when there is an inability to make a normal adjustment to some need or stress in the environment.

Successful adjustment is crucial to having a high quality of life. Those who are unable to adjust well are more likely to have clinical anxiety or depression,[1] as well as experience feelings of hopelessness, anhedonia, difficulty concentrating, sleeping problems and reckless behavior.[2]

When evaluating adjustment it can be considered in two ways: adjustment as an achievement and adjustment as a process.

Adjustment as an achievement

This model addresses adjustment at a specific moment in time, considering an individual's adjustment to one challenge, not to all challenges they have faced. Successfully adjusting to one scenario can be independent of struggling to adjust to another, unrelated scenario.[3] An example of this type of approach is observing a poor student beginning to study during recess because they don't have a home environment where they can effectively study. Beginning to study at another time would be considered adequately adjusting to this scenario, but does not consider the other ways it may impact their life (i.e.: inhibiting social interactions with peers.)[4][5]

Adjustment as a process

The 'adjustment as a process' theory portrays that, since the moment we are born, humans are in a constant state of adjustment. Since we exist in a state of constant, oftentimes rapid change, it follows that we cannot break these changes down into separate, unrelated challenges. This method of consideration asserts there is no way to 'adjust successfully', because something will always be about to change and prompt further adjustment. This approach views all life events as inextricable from some form of adjustment.[6]

Successful adjustment

Successful adjustment is also called being '

Examples of adjustment methods

Many methods used for adjustment are also defense mechanisms. Defense mechanisms can be either adaptive or maladaptive depending on the context and the use. In a 2003 study, researchers found that elementary school children that utilized appropriate defense mechanisms had higher performance in academic, social, conduct, and athletic domains.[7]

Day Dreaming

  • Daydreams are brief detachments from reality while awake. Episodes generally include fantasizing about hopes for the future and other pleasant thoughts.
  • Adaptive example: daydreaming about positive social interactions could reduce social anxiety
  • In a 2016 study, researchers studied 103 students as they transitioned to university. They found that those who day dreamed more frequently and whose day dreams had higher rates of positive characteristics and positive emotional outcomes were less likely to feel lonely by the end of the study. Participants' day dreams fostered feelings of connection and social inclusion during an anxiety ridden period. Findings from this study suggest that day dreaming can help individuals with socio-emotional adjustment.[8]

Additional Examples

  • Compensation: emphasizing a strength to diminish the appearance of a real or imagined weakness[9]
    • Adaptive example: developing strong interpersonal skills to compensate for difficulty with academics
  • Intellectualization: focusing on the abstract side of something as opposed to the practical or emotional sides[10]
    • Adaptive example: researching a disease after being diagnosed rather than contemplating the life changing impact[11]
  • Rationalization: understanding the reasoning behind actions; often touted as "making excuses" but can be adaptive[12]
    • Adaptive example: knowing that you need to be stern and harsh to a friend in order to tell them the truth and help them improve
  • Identification: associating oneself with another individual (often a friend or relative) that is extremely accomplished[13]
    • Adaptive example: associating with the success of sibling when you have helped them achieve a goal
  • Projection: displacing personal feelings/opinions as those of another person (consciously or unconsciously)[14]
    • Adaptive example: mitigating personal guilt by saying a friend has anger issues rather than acknowledging your internal anger[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ Ward, Colleen; Kennedy, Antony (1994-06-01). "Acculturation strategies, psychological adjustment, and sociocultural competence during cross-cultural transitions". International Journal of Intercultural Relations. 18 (3): 329–343. doi:10.1016/0147-1767(94)90036-1. ISSN 0147-1767.
  2. ^ Bisson, Jonathan I.; Sakhuja, Divya (2006-07-01). "Adjustment disorders". Psychiatry. 5 (7): 240–242. doi:10.1053/j.mppsy.2006.04.004. ISSN 1476-1793.
  3. ^ Hammond, Kenneth R.; O'Kelly, Lawrence I. (1955). "A note on adjustment as achievement". The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology. 51 (2): 171–174. doi:10.1037/h0048667. PMID 13263025.
  4. ^ Dockett, Sue; Perry, Bob; Tracey, Danielle (1997). Getting Ready for School [microform] / Sue Dockett, Bob Perry and Danielle Tracey. [Washington D.C.]: Distributed by ERIC Clearinghouse.
  5. ^ Dockett, Sue; Griebel, Wilfried; Perry, Bob (2017-07-04). Families and transition to school. Dockett, Sue,, Griebel, Wilfried,, Perry, Bob, 1945-. Cham, Switzerland. ISBN 9783319583297. OCLC 992988904.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ^ Arkoff, Abe (1968). Adjustment and mental health. McGraw-Hill.
  7. ^ Sandstrom, Marlene J.; Cramer, Phebe (August 2003). "Defense mechanisms and psychological adjustment in childhood". The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 191 (8): 487–495. doi:10.1097/01.nmd.0000082214.19699.6f. ISSN 0022-3018. PMID 12972850. S2CID 13529547.
  8. ^ Poerio, Giulia L.; Totterdell, Peter; Emerson, Lisa-Marie; Miles, Eleanor (2016-01-21). "Social Daydreaming and Adjustment: An Experience-Sampling Study of Socio-Emotional Adaptation During a Life Transition". Frontiers in Psychology. 7: 13. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00013. PMC 4720731. PMID 26834685.
  9. ^ Introduction to Psychology. Goodwill Trading Co., Inc. ISBN 9789715740210.
  10. ^ "Intellectualization as a Defense Mechanism Following Childhood Trauma". Childhood Trauma Recovery. 2015-04-09. Retrieved 2018-02-26.
  11. ^ "Intellectualization | Encyclopedia of Psychology". Encyclopedia of Psychology. 2016-06-17. Retrieved 2018-02-26.
  12. ^ "Understanding Rationalization: Making Excuses as an Effective Manipulation Tactic". CounsellingResource.com: Psychology, Therapy & Mental Health Resources. Retrieved 2018-02-26.
  13. ^ Sandler, Joseph (1988-12-31). Projection, Identification, Projective Identification. Karnac Books. ISBN 9781781810286.
  14. ^ "Defense mechanism | human psychology". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2018-02-26.
  15. ^ "Projection". changingminds.org. Retrieved 2018-02-26.
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