Module-2

Dimensions of Subjective Adjustment

We have understood that adjustment is interplay of various factors. Hence, it can

be considered multidimensional. What are the dimensions of adjustment and what is the

nature of each of these dimensions? If you read about psychological testing and

measurement in detail you would realize that unlike many of the measurable constructs,

psychological variables cannot be considered to have a zero point. Say, you can classify

me as someone with X or Y personality type but cannot say that I have zero personality.

Similarly, I can be intellectually superior or inferior; you can measure my IQ but I will

not have zero IQ. Having said that, when you look at the dimensions of adjustment, you

can envisage them to range from a theoretical zero to a maximum possible value or to

have a theoretical neutral point with positive and negative values on each side. Each

dimension of the adjustment process can be described in this way.

Dimensions of human adjustment:

Although each and every aspect of human life, whether personal or social,

interacts with few others and collectively affects the adjustment process, here we would

look at the major constituent elements that come into play every time. These dimensions

are— selective awareness, tolerance, autonomy, impulse and behavioural control,

personal integration and self-realization. The illustration given below demonstrates these

dimensions.
Selective Awareness

You must have come across the concept of selectivity in terms of perception and

attention. In a broader sense, we all show certain degree of selectivity. We choose one

type of food over the other, certain type of dress, and what not. In terms of adjustment, it

refers to the tendency to get more and more familiarized and involved with certain aspect

of the environment or completely cease to do so. In the former case one would selectively

process all the relevant information whereas in the later case one would cease to respond

to those aspects. This process if referred to as negative adaptation wherein one attenuates

or stops responding to stimuli which the individual concerned finds non-significant. A

typical example of it could be a very familiar sight that you always refuse to process. You

walk out of your house and of all that you see while moving from your house to another
place only few catches your attention. Adjustment does not only mean termination of

reaction to certain stimuli, it also involves intensification of response to some other

stimuli. This is the reflection of selective awareness in the adjustment process which is

determined by an individual’s adaptability to differentially respond to stimuli that are

available in the environment. The relative significance of the stimuli, as judged by the

respondent, plays important role in this. Besides sensory-motor processes, selective

awareness applies to affective and ideational processes as well. The example of

selectively looking at the sight available in the environment described above represents

selective awareness in sensory-motor processes. You look at several faces in the class and

someone’s face catches your attention. You feel compelled to look at that person

repeatedly. Even after you have left the room and has gone somewhere else that very face

comes to your awareness off and on. These are common examples that everyone must

have experienced. The broader picture of selective awareness dimension of adjustment

shows an interaction among sensory-motor, ideational and affective processes

representing a continuum with two extremes— rigidly stimulus-tied processes and

completely fantasy or emotion dominated awareness. The figure given below illustrates

the continuum of selective awareness.

awareness due to remaining bound to a certain type of stimulus. In such situations one

would show inability to break through the framework and hence modification of response

in order to adjust to novel situations will be seriously hampered. The other extreme of

this continuum is behaviour that is completely fantasy or emotion dominated.

Interestingly, reality-oriented awareness exists between these two extremes and this is

what seems pragmatic for human beings. In general, we have varying degrees of reality-

tied awareness that is supplemented by appropriate ideation and emotion.

The Oxford dictionary defines tolerance as “the ability or willingness to tolerate

the existence of opinions or behavior that one dislikes or disagrees with”. In general, life

necessitates understanding specific goals. This, by default, implies that certain limitations

will also be realized, which, in turn, would demand renunciation of certain goals.

Similarly, one would have to concede the limitations. The process of adjustment demands

acceptance of such things in life that one can neither change nor ignore. Hence,

acceptance is an inevitable component of adjustment process. However, one needs to be

cautious that such acceptance is realistic. Someone who considers himself/ herself to be

unrealistically dependant might maintain low aspiration level. This, in turn, can make

them accept and tolerate things more than what is appropriate. This could stunt the

possibility of growth and hence, one should be cautiously examining the aspects that can

be changed to adapt well. The illustration given below shows the two extremes of

tolerance.
 If you look at the continuum of tolerance, the extreme possibilities could be

complete acceptance and complete rejection. One could show indiscriminate acceptance

of self as well as others. This would mean that you accept the person and happenings the

way they are. At the other end of the continuum one show extreme rejection and denial.

One could simply reject a person or the circumstance. Say, someone who is physically

challenged might deny his/ her handicap and choose to climb the Everest. He/ she has

chosen to prove himself/ herself and compete with the rest.

Autonomy

The sense of autonomy is reflected right from our childhood. It is the capacity to

act freely without getting influenced by the external agents. Till now we have looked at

several scenarios where the social agents become very important and play decisive role in

guiding one’s course of action. While discussing “normality” we did come across the

point that the view of the majority matters and compliance to such views are demanded.

In situations where one conforms to the majority it is imperative that the individual has

considered majority’s view to be right. This might not be always true and although

inwardly not favourable, one could comply in order to retain certain degree of stability in

the system.

High level of conformity at the social level and susceptibility of the individuals to

comply at the personal level make a social structure stable. In case an individual

conforms in order to add stability to the existing social structure and considers this as his/

her ultimate goal, then such behaviour reflects defensible adjustment criterion. However,

the range of social systems and cultural practices are so wide that individuals from the
other system might find many a things unacceptable. One cannot assume that the systems

would be equally good. This gets further complicated when you look at individual

differences. As a harmonious living is sought after by human beings, we mostly try to

adjust even if there are differences. The extreme ends of the autonomy continuum have

rigidity at both the ends. One extreme would be rigid and extreme social conformity

whereas the other extreme would be rigid behaviour that is inner directed. The illustration

given below shows the two extremes of autonomy.

Earlier we had taken the example of marriage as an institution in the Indian

society. Let us look at the wide range of social systems. In most of the part of modern

India, marriage has a social and legal identity. Several rules and norms govern it. After

attaining specific ages a girl and boy can get married. We find love and arranged forms of

marriages in the country. Let us turn our head and look at the other side. You must have

come across the decesions of the Khap Panchayats. Khaps are cluster of villages

combined on the basis of geographical location and caste. They exist in the states of
Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and parts of Rajasthan in modern India. The reason for

the Khap Panchayats to come to the limelight has been several cases of killings of young

married couples who married in the same gotra (clan). They consider boys and girls of

the same khap (and thereby same gotra) to be siblings and hence marriage between them

is not allowed. You may find several individual who are well educated and exposed to the

modern way of life but would not hesitate conforming to the khap decisions.

We did talk about the sacred nature of marriage and the concept of loyalty in such

relationships. Prostitution has been socially disallowed and legally forbidden. Discarding

such professional acts let us look at it as a part of social system The women of erstwhile

nomadic tribes such as Bedia, Nat, Sansi, Kanjar, and Bachada distributed across north,

northwestern and central India engage in prostitution. Here prostitution is considered a

familial occupation. Surprisingly, in modern India you will find a village called Natpura

in Uttar Pradesh where all young women work as prostitutes. Even more surprisingly

they define it as a tradition that they are carrying without realizing their right being

violated and they being exploited on the name of tradition. Such behaviour is reflection

of extreme social conformity.

I am reminded of an art exhibition where a well known painter had displayed a

cow with six legs. When asked he said that it was his cow and could have as many legs as

he wants. This is a reflection of inner directed pattern of behaviour. All forms of

behaviour displaying personal autonomy and/ or social control lie between these

extremes.
Personal Integration

In our earlier discussion we had talked about the congruence needed among the

cognitive, conative and affective aspects of the behaviour. Personal integration refers to

the coordination of personal characteristic such as belief, feeling and action. It is rather a

stable form of behaviour that one reflects. The one extreme of this continuum is highly

integrated but rigid and closed behaviour and attitudinal systems whereas the other

extreme is inconsistent and unstable belief system.

One possibility could be to remain rigid and closed thus not allowing behaviour or

attitude to be reexamined. The example of members of Khap panchayats not attempting

to be in tune with time is a case where one shows high degree of integrity but remains

almost close. On the other end you find diffused behaviour that reflects inconsistency and

instability in behavioural manifestations and belief system. Most of the people show
certain fixity but are open to learning and change. Hence, rest all forms of behaviour

show variable degree of integration and lie between these extremes.

Behaviour and Impulse Control

The whole of psychology talks only of behaviour, of course in all forms. Most of

our reactions are wholesome. At times we come forward with unreflective immediate

response whereas on certain occasions we refrain to respond. An unexpected unreflective

urge to act is termed as impulse. Practically it is expected that human beings will have

control over such impulses. However, this might be true for all individuals at all time.

Hence, behaviour and impulse control ranges from extreme repression of such desire to

uninhibited expression of the impulse. The illustration below diagrammatically represents

the continuum of behaviour and impulse control.

repression. Subdued desires are also seen in the case of suppression. Technically, the

difference lies in the nature of this phenomenon. If the phenomenon is unconscious, it is

repression. If one is aware of the desire, has weighed it and decided to keep it subdued,

then it is suppression. This is a conscious phenomenon. Usually thoughts that are likely to

be painful or dangerous are stopped from entering into conscious awareness. Depending

upon the situation you will find cases of severe repression to complete unrestricted

expression of impulse. As part of the adjustment process human beings try to

appropriately control their behaviour so that it appears timely and justified. They also

hold their behaviour or impulse in abeyance.

Self-realization

Self realization refers to the fulfillment of one’s potential. However, given the

individual limitations and social situations this process is too intricate. We have just

discussed that conformity and compliance to socially prescribed forms of behaviour

ensures the level of acceptance in the society and it also adds to social stability. However,

when such demands become exploitative, when it restricts realization of the potential and

is guided by social domination of some type then one should not succumb to it. As such

situation restricts the opportunity of growth and fulfillment, refusal to conform in such

scenario is considered a sign of mental health. Theoretically the continuum of self-

realization ranges from attainment of fulfillment and complete realization of one’s

potential to minimal level of fulfillment. The illustration given below is self explanatory.
 Truly speaking, complete realization of one’s potential is close to impossible. The

moment one strives to attain a goal in life, one has to compromise with attaining other

goals that could have been also achieved. Extra attention to one area is at the cost of

neglect of some other areas.