An overview of Maladjustment An overview of Maladjustment as a social phenomenon and as a social phenomenon and as a subject for psychological as a subject for psychological

study study Presented by:

M.P.Ravishanker, Med I-sem

Farook training college

DescriptionDescription

‘‘Inability to react successfully and Inability to react successfully and satisfactorily to the demands of one’s satisfactorily to the demands of one’s environment’ environment’

Encompasses a wide range of physical, Encompasses a wide range of physical, psychological and social conditions psychological and social conditions

Most often implies an individual’s failure Most often implies an individual’s failure to meet social or cultural expectations.to meet social or cultural expectations.

In psychology, the term generally refers In psychology, the term generally refers to unsatisfactory behaviour patterns that to unsatisfactory behaviour patterns that cause anxiety and require cause anxiety and require psychotherapy.psychotherapy.

The term maladjustment is most The term maladjustment is most simply defined as,simply defined as,

Faulty or inadequate adjustment. Faulty or inadequate adjustment.

Inability to adjust to the demands of Inability to adjust to the demands of interpersonal relationships and interpersonal relationships and stresses of daily living. stresses of daily living.

DefinitionDefinition

““Psychological maladjustment exists Psychological maladjustment exists when the organism denies awareness when the organism denies awareness of significant sensory and visceral of significant sensory and visceral experiences, which consequently are experiences, which consequently are not symbolized and organized into not symbolized and organized into the gestalt of the self structure. the gestalt of the self structure. When this situation exists, there is a When this situation exists, there is a basic or potential psychological basic or potential psychological tension.”tension.”

Carl RogersCarl Rogers

What is adjustment?What is adjustment?

““Adjustment means the modification Adjustment means the modification to compensate for or meet special to compensate for or meet special conditions” conditions” James Drever(1952)James Drever(1952)

““Adjustment is the establishment of Adjustment is the establishment of a satisfactory relationship, as a satisfactory relationship, as representing harmony, conformance, representing harmony, conformance, adaptation or the like” adaptation or the like” Webster(1951)Webster(1951)

““Adjustment is the process by which a Adjustment is the process by which a living organism maintains a balance living organism maintains a balance between needs and circumstances that between needs and circumstances that influence the satisfaction of these needs.” influence the satisfaction of these needs.”

Shaffer(1961)Shaffer(1961) ““An individual’s adjustment is adequate, An individual’s adjustment is adequate,

wholesome or healthful to the extent that wholesome or healthful to the extent that he has established harmonious relationship he has established harmonious relationship between himself and the conditions, between himself and the conditions, situations and persons who comprise his situations and persons who comprise his physical and social environment.”physical and social environment.”

Crow and Crow(1956)Crow and Crow(1956)

Psychological term untainted by the Psychological term untainted by the contemporary derogatory colouring that contemporary derogatory colouring that attributes compromise and opportunism.attributes compromise and opportunism.

A positive capacity to adapt to one’s A positive capacity to adapt to one’s circumstances and needs. circumstances and needs.

A sensitive appreciation of realityA sensitive appreciation of reality

Some accommodation to environmental Some accommodation to environmental pressurespressures

Continuing efforts at modifying the Continuing efforts at modifying the environment to suit one’s needs environment to suit one’s needs

AdjustmentAdjustment

AdjustmentAdjustment -- “the variations and “the variations and changes in behaviour that are changes in behaviour that are necessary to satisfy needs and meet necessary to satisfy needs and meet demands so that one can establish a demands so that one can establish a harmonious relationship with the harmonious relationship with the environment.”environment.”

If one fails to make these ‘variations If one fails to make these ‘variations and changes’ ?and changes’ ?

The ‘needs’ will not be satisfied,The ‘needs’ will not be satisfied, the ‘demands’ will not be met.the ‘demands’ will not be met. Thus he/she will not be able to Thus he/she will not be able to

‘establish a harmonious relationship ‘establish a harmonious relationship with the environment’. with the environment’.

Maladjustment is disharmony with Maladjustment is disharmony with one’s environment. one’s environment.

Maladjustments arise because the Maladjustments arise because the individual,individual,

Fails to appreciate (acknowledge, Fails to appreciate (acknowledge, admit and cope with) reality,admit and cope with) reality,

Fails to accommodate (yield to some Fails to accommodate (yield to some extent and adapt) to the extent and adapt) to the environmental pressures environmental pressures

Lacks either the will or the skill to Lacks either the will or the skill to modify the environment to suit his modify the environment to suit his needs. needs.

Maladjustment indicates bad Maladjustment indicates bad mental healthmental health

Mental HealthMental Health - - Quality of the interacting Quality of the interacting

process through which the individual process through which the individual relates to himself and to the world relates to himself and to the world around him.around him.

No, definition will satisfy No, definition will satisfy everyone, since mental health is and everyone, since mental health is and individual and personal matter and individual and personal matter and the standards of normal behaviour the standards of normal behaviour may vary with time, place, culture, may vary with time, place, culture, and the expectations of society. and the expectations of society.

Mental illness-Mental illness-

Mental illness is not a Mental illness is not a specific ailment but is related to an specific ailment but is related to an individual’s entire existence.individual’s entire existence.

Mental illness may be Mental illness may be described as a condition or state of described as a condition or state of maladjustment where the processes maladjustment where the processes of balance have ceased to function or of balance have ceased to function or are functioning ineffectively.are functioning ineffectively.

Symptoms of Symptoms of maladjustmentmaladjustment

Reality distortionsReality distortions

Mental aberrationsMental aberrations

Affect distortionsAffect distortions

Motor reactionsMotor reactions

Personality disorganizationPersonality disorganization

Somatic reactionsSomatic reactions

Reality DistortionsReality Distortions

Man’s contact with reality is established Man’s contact with reality is established through his perceptions.through his perceptions.

If these perceptions are faulty, then his If these perceptions are faulty, then his behaviour will be unrealistic and behaviour will be unrealistic and distorted. distorted.

Maladjusted people will have a variety of Maladjusted people will have a variety of distorted perceptions because they distorted perceptions because they unconsciously attempt to restructure unconsciously attempt to restructure their environment so that they can make their environment so that they can make some kind of purposeful response to it. some kind of purposeful response to it.

An observer will not understand An observer will not understand these responses if he cannot these responses if he cannot understand the perceptions these understand the perceptions these people are experiencing. people are experiencing.

Illusions and hallucinations are two Illusions and hallucinations are two forms of perceptual distortions that forms of perceptual distortions that seriously affect an individual’s seriously affect an individual’s interpretations of reality.interpretations of reality.

Illusions are sensations that are Illusions are sensations that are either misinterpreted by that either misinterpreted by that individual or formed by him into individual or formed by him into inaccurate perceptions.inaccurate perceptions.

Hallucinations are disorders of Hallucinations are disorders of perception that are not founded on perception that are not founded on sensory experience but are created sensory experience but are created within the individual.within the individual.

Maladjusted person, hears and feels Maladjusted person, hears and feels things that no one else can sense things that no one else can sense because no external stimuli are because no external stimuli are present. present.

Mental Abberations (Mental Abberations (Disorders of Disorders of

ThinkingThinking)) Defective thinking may take the form Defective thinking may take the form

of a flight of ideas where ideas pour of a flight of ideas where ideas pour out in great profusion, but without out in great profusion, but without logical order. logical order.

Characteristic of disordered thinking Characteristic of disordered thinking is irrelevance. is irrelevance.

Delusions, paranoid ideas, and Delusions, paranoid ideas, and obsessions are additional forms of obsessions are additional forms of disordered thinking. disordered thinking.

Another thinking disorder is difficulty Another thinking disorder is difficulty to focus attention on anything.to focus attention on anything.

All these symptoms may occur All these symptoms may occur without any identifiable organic without any identifiable organic damage to the brain. damage to the brain.

Affect DistortionsAffect Distortions

Feelings and emotions are affective Feelings and emotions are affective aspects of behaviour. Among the aspects of behaviour. Among the many affective disorders that may many affective disorders that may occur among maladjusted people occur among maladjusted people are,are,

Exultation Exultation Transient range Transient range Depression and phobias Depression and phobias

ExultationExultation is an exhilarated effusive is an exhilarated effusive response to stimuli that are either response to stimuli that are either not observable to other people or not observable to other people or would have little effect on a normal would have little effect on a normal person. person.

The exulted individual is over The exulted individual is over stimulated, hyper active, and often stimulated, hyper active, and often talks endlessly and loudly.talks endlessly and loudly.

Transient rangeTransient range is an exaggeration of the is an exaggeration of the temper tantrums seen among children.temper tantrums seen among children.

This uncontrollable temper reactions in This uncontrollable temper reactions in adults result in strong emotional adults result in strong emotional upheaval that can lead to destructive upheaval that can lead to destructive action. action.

DepressionDepression is a disorder of emotion that is a disorder of emotion that may serve the needs of the individual by may serve the needs of the individual by enabling him to manipulate others enabling him to manipulate others through forcing them to be concerned through forcing them to be concerned over him. over him.

The depressed person would deny The depressed person would deny that his reaction have any utility that his reaction have any utility since he feel so miserable. Yet he since he feel so miserable. Yet he clings to his feelings and symptoms clings to his feelings and symptoms and resists efforts to alleviate them. and resists efforts to alleviate them.

PhobiasPhobias are affective disorders with are affective disorders with persistent irrational fears. persistent irrational fears.

Motor ReactionsMotor Reactions

The perceptual, mental and The perceptual, mental and emotional symptoms discussed emotional symptoms discussed earlier are accompanied by earlier are accompanied by deviations in motor behaviour or deviations in motor behaviour or overt actions. overt actions.

Personality Personality DisorganizationDisorganization

Some disturbed people undergo a Some disturbed people undergo a depersonalization process in which their depersonalization process in which their sense of self is undermined. sense of self is undermined.

They think of themselves as worthless and They think of themselves as worthless and hopelessly inadequate and present a hopelessly inadequate and present a picture of gross self-neglect. picture of gross self-neglect.

Another form of personality Another form of personality disorganization is a separation of roles to disorganization is a separation of roles to the point where the individual is a the point where the individual is a different person at different times. different person at different times.

Somatic ReactionsSomatic Reactions

Disturbances of body functions Disturbances of body functions usually accompany any of the above usually accompany any of the above symptoms.symptoms.

Such as, impairment of appetite, high Such as, impairment of appetite, high blood pressure, migraine, head blood pressure, migraine, head aches, persistent diarrhea, gastro aches, persistent diarrhea, gastro intestinal pains and upsets, intestinal pains and upsets, heartburn, ulcers and others. heartburn, ulcers and others.

Prevention and Amelioration Prevention and Amelioration of Maladjustmentof Maladjustment

The prevention of maladjustment has The prevention of maladjustment has been described under the categories been described under the categories of primary, secondary and tertiary of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. prevention.

Primary preventionPrimary prevention is concerned is concerned with biological, social and with biological, social and psychological factors that induce psychological factors that induce stress in the human organism and stress in the human organism and the ways in which these stresses the ways in which these stresses may be modified or reduced. may be modified or reduced.

Includes proper care and concern in Includes proper care and concern in prenatal, infancy, schooling stages prenatal, infancy, schooling stages and strengthening home atmosphere and strengthening home atmosphere and economic conditions. and economic conditions.

In a community where In a community where thoughtlessness, discrimination, thoughtlessness, discrimination, greed, selfishness, prejudice, hate, greed, selfishness, prejudice, hate, and strife flourish will have a high and strife flourish will have a high incidence of delinquency, divorce, incidence of delinquency, divorce, crime, strikes and other evidences of crime, strikes and other evidences of personal and social disorder. Well-personal and social disorder. Well-adjusted individuals are not readily adjusted individuals are not readily produced. produced.

School factorsSchool factors: Schools provide children : Schools provide children with social and intellectual experiences with social and intellectual experiences which they can get nowhere else and which which they can get nowhere else and which have a powerful formative influence on have a powerful formative influence on personality. To focus attention on children personality. To focus attention on children who are most vulnerable to emotional who are most vulnerable to emotional stress, a conceptual model of personality stress, a conceptual model of personality development called crisis model has been development called crisis model has been suggested. Schools should give special care suggested. Schools should give special care at critical junctures such as entrance to at critical junctures such as entrance to school, puberty and changes from school, puberty and changes from elementary to junior high school and from elementary to junior high school and from junior high school to senior high school. junior high school to senior high school.

Secondary PreventionSecondary Prevention involves the involves the early detection and treatment of early detection and treatment of behavioural disorders that cannot be behavioural disorders that cannot be prevented, but may be deterred from prevented, but may be deterred from becoming more serious. becoming more serious.

Secondary prevention is an essential Secondary prevention is an essential supplement to primary prevention. supplement to primary prevention.

It depends first upon discovering It depends first upon discovering maladjustment before an individuals maladjustment before an individuals behaviour has deteriorated too behaviour has deteriorated too seriously. seriously.

Television , radio, newspapers, Television , radio, newspapers, popular magazines and other popular magazines and other channels of communication have been channels of communication have been used extensively to make the public used extensively to make the public aware of mental disorder as a aware of mental disorder as a treatable illness and to combat the treatable illness and to combat the superstition and fatalism with which superstition and fatalism with which this ailments have been viewed. this ailments have been viewed.

This educational programme has had This educational programme has had the effect of increasing the public’s the effect of increasing the public’s willingness to provide care and willingness to provide care and treatment for mentally ill instead of treatment for mentally ill instead of hiding them away in remote state hiding them away in remote state institutions. institutions.

Another phase of educational Another phase of educational programme in secondary prevention programme in secondary prevention is the orientation of professional is the orientation of professional people toward mental health goals people toward mental health goals and concepts.and concepts.

This is being done through training This is being done through training programmes, workshops, institutes, programmes, workshops, institutes, lectures and other devices aimed at lectures and other devices aimed at the service professions.the service professions.

Tertiary preventionTertiary prevention, more properly , more properly called therapy.called therapy.

Is the modern treatment of Is the modern treatment of maladjustment so that the people do maladjustment so that the people do not become chronically disabled.not become chronically disabled.

The major forms of treatment used in The major forms of treatment used in the rehabilitation of maladjusted the rehabilitation of maladjusted persons may be classified into two persons may be classified into two broad categories – broad categories –

Somatic therapy and Somatic therapy and Psychological therapy. Psychological therapy.

Somatic therapySomatic therapy is the treatment of is the treatment of emotional disorders by physical methods emotional disorders by physical methods such as drugs, shock or surgery which are such as drugs, shock or surgery which are meant to modify physiological processes. meant to modify physiological processes.

This treatment is based on the theory This treatment is based on the theory that behaviour deviations are symptoms that behaviour deviations are symptoms of disturbed physiological processes and of disturbed physiological processes and that restoration of physiological that restoration of physiological homeostasis will result in improved homeostasis will result in improved behaviour. behaviour.

Psychological therapyPsychological therapy is aimed at is aimed at strengthening the individuals mental strengthening the individuals mental and emotional resources so that he and emotional resources so that he can function more effectively. can function more effectively.

The simplest form of psychological The simplest form of psychological therapy is counseling,therapy is counseling,

Where the problems are worked out Where the problems are worked out on an operational level without on an operational level without attempting to alter the psycho-attempting to alter the psycho-dynamic functioning of the individual.dynamic functioning of the individual.

Psycho-therapy goes beyond the Psycho-therapy goes beyond the solving of current problems and tries solving of current problems and tries to restore the individual’s functional to restore the individual’s functional capacities. capacities.

Aids or adjuncts to psychological Aids or adjuncts to psychological therapy.therapy.

Hypnotism, narco-analysis, clinical Hypnotism, narco-analysis, clinical tests, books, films, art, music, tests, books, films, art, music, psycho-drama and television. psycho-drama and television.

The somatic therapies, particularly The somatic therapies, particularly drugs and shock treatment are used drugs and shock treatment are used usually in conjunction with usually in conjunction with psychological therapy in the psychological therapy in the treatment of seriously disturbed treatment of seriously disturbed patients. patients.

““Modern psychology has a word that is probably Modern psychology has a word that is probably used more than any other word in psychology. It is used more than any other word in psychology. It is the word "maladjusted". It is the ringing cry of the word "maladjusted". It is the ringing cry of modern child psychology. "Maladjusted". Now of modern child psychology. "Maladjusted". Now of course we all want to live a well-adjusted life in course we all want to live a well-adjusted life in order to avoid neurotic and schizophrenic order to avoid neurotic and schizophrenic personalities. But as I move toward my conclusion I personalities. But as I move toward my conclusion I would like to say to you today in a very honest would like to say to you today in a very honest manner that there are some things in our society manner that there are some things in our society and some things in our world to which I am proud and some things in our world to which I am proud to be maladjusted. And I call upon all men of good to be maladjusted. And I call upon all men of good will to be maladjusted to these things until the will to be maladjusted to these things until the good society is realised. I must honestly say to you good society is realised. I must honestly say to you that I never intend to adjust myself to racial that I never intend to adjust myself to racial segregation and discrimination. I never intend to segregation and discrimination. I never intend to adjust myself to religious bigotry. I never intend to adjust myself to religious bigotry. I never intend to adjust myself to economic conditions that will take adjust myself to economic conditions that will take necessities from the many to give luxuries to the necessities from the many to give luxuries to the few, leave millions of God's children smothering in few, leave millions of God's children smothering in an airtight cage of poverty in the midst of an an airtight cage of poverty in the midst of an affluent society."affluent society." Martin Luther KingMartin Luther King