Human adaptability and fundamental typology of individuality

Adaptability and health article on the topic

ADAPTABILITY AND HEALTH

Adaptability is understood as the ability of a system (organism, individual, personality) to adapt to the entire diversity of life under any conditions. According to the definition of V.P. Kaznacheev and E.V. Trifonov, adaptability is a synonym for “norm”, “health”, i.e. adaptability is the optimal quality of a living system, which ensures sustainable functioning at all levels in a specific ecological environment [7].

According to A.M. Stolyarenko, mental adaptation is the process of establishing optimal correspondence between the individual and the environment during the implementation of human activities, which allows the individual to satisfy current needs and realize significant goals associated with them, while ensuring at the same time the correspondence of human activity, his behavior, environmental requirements [10].

Sustainable adaptation of the individual is understood as those regulatory reactions, mental activity, and the nature of relationships that arose during the process of ontogenesis in specific social and environmental conditions and the functioning of which within the boundaries of the optimum does not require significant neuropsychic stress. A trained body is characterized by high resilience and resistance to various adverse external influences, while all its systems work as economically as possible.

According to P. S. Grave and M. R. Shneidman, a person is adaptive “when his internal information stock corresponds to the information content of the situation, i.e. when the system operates in conditions where the situation does not go beyond the individual information range” [1, p. 51].

One of the signs of adaptation is that the regulatory processes that ensure the balance of the organism as a whole in the external environment proceed smoothly, harmoniously, economically, i.e. in the “optimum” zone. The criteria for the optimal state are considered to be: 1) the maximum manifestation of the function included in the activity being performed: both its greatest value (strength) and its smallest value - speed of response; 2) adequacy of response to stimulating influences, optimal in intensity; 3) inertia of the optimal state, which, on the one hand, complicates the transition to a new operating mode, and on the other, is a mechanism for combating interference that knocks the system away from the optimal operating mode [1].

The adaptive properties of the human body serve as a measure of its “reliability” to maintain normal life activity in environmental conditions that are inadequate for it. The adaptation process can be considered at different levels of its occurrence: individual behavior, interpersonal relationships, basic mental functions, psychophysiological regulation, physiological mechanisms for supporting life, functional reserves of the body, health.

A person’s ability to adapt to changes in the environment, interacting with it freely, based on biological, psychological and social essence, is defined by the concept of health. The state of health of an individual is defined as the process of maintaining and developing mental, physical and biological functions, its optimal ability to work and social activity with maximum life expectancy. The main signs of health are considered to be: structural and functional integrity of human systems and organs; individual adaptability to the physical and social environment; as well as preservation of the usual state of health [9].

In connection with this definition, the concept of health is divided into: physical health - the current state of the functional capabilities of the organs and systems of the body; mental health is a state of a person’s mental sphere, characterized by general mental comfort, ensuring adequate regulation of behavior and determined by the needs of a biological and social nature; social health is understood as a system of values, attitudes and motives of behavior in the social environment [9].

V.P. Kaznacheev also believes that health status is assessed at three levels. The somatic level implies the perfection of self-regulation in the body, the harmony of physiological processes, and maximum adaptation to the environment. The social level assesses the degree of ability to work and social activity, an active attitude towards the world. The personal level determines a person’s life strategy and his personal safety [7].

Within the framework of the “adaptation model of a healthy personality” defined by O.S. Vasilyeva and F.R. Filatov, recovery is understood as successful adaptation and comprehensive harmonization of the subject’s relations with the world around him [4]. For a healthy person, it is important to fully participate in various types of life activities.

E.A. Evstifeeva, M.N. Kalinkin, S.I. Filippchenkov define the concept of “holic health” as a wide range of possibilities for human self-realization. The main human resources are responsibility, motivational preferences, and volitional intentions [6]. Self-responsibility presupposes an individual's desire, motivation, and ability to maintain health-promoting behaviors and avoid dysfunctional lifestyles. According to E.A. Evstifeeva, “a person’s responsibility for his health and increasing the interval locus of control is the main condition for holism” [6, P.64].

A.I. Volozhin and Yu.K.Subbotin note that maladaptation is “a violation of the ability of a system or its element to reconstruct its structure in order to adapt to a new environmental factor...” [5, p.33]. At the same time, according to V.I. Lebedev, mental disadaptation occurs when the adaptation barrier is “breakthrough”, dynamic stereotypes in the central nervous system that have developed during ontogenesis are broken [8].

The duration of adaptation processes and especially sharp strains on the body's functional reserves usually lead to their overstrain. Yu.A. Aleksandrovsky notes: if the pressure on the “barrier of mental adaptation” increases and its reserves are exhausted, a “tear of the barrier” occurs, and, as a consequence, neurotic and somatic disorders of the body’s functions [2].

Research by S.I. Filippchenkova showed that the main factors of professional activity that lead to a state of stress, an increase in the level of emotional burnout syndrome, and the use of unconstructive coping strategies are: high emotional intensity of professional activity, a large number of clients with whom one has to work during the day, low job satisfaction, typical emotional state during the day (tension, anxiety, concern) and the unfavorable socio-psychological climate of the team. Moreover, the last factor, according to the majority of employees, plays the most significant role in the occurrence and development of professional stress [11].

Thus, resistance to stress is one of the most important factors in personal safety and health preservation in extreme conditions. Adapted mental activity, including professional activity, is the most important factor ensuring a person’s state of health.

Human health and its ability to adapt to new environmental conditions are interconnected. Adaptive abilities provide physical, social and mental well-being, readiness to solve life problems while maintaining normal life activities, incl. under unfavorable conditions, thereby acting as indicators of a person’s psychological maturity.

Bibliography

1. Adaptation to professional activity / Physiology of labor activity // A. V. Yurevich, V. S. Averyanov, O. V. Vinogradov and others, - St. Petersburg: Nauka, 1993. - P. 209–277.
2. Acmeology: Textbook / Ed. A. A. Derkach - M.: Publishing house RAGS, 2002. - 650 p.
3. Baevsky R.M. Prediction of conditions on the border between normal and pathological. – M.: Medicine, 1979. – 298 p.
4. Vasiliev I.A., Magomed - Eminov M.Sh. Motivation and control of action. - M.: Moscow State University Publishing House, 1991. - 144c.
5. Volozhin A.I., Subbotin Yu.K. Illness and health: two sides of adaptation. – M.: Medicine, 1998. – 480 p.
6. Evstifeeva E.A., Kalinkin M.N., Filippchenkova S.I. Holistic health: realities and psychological discourse // Human factor: problems of psychology and ergonomics. – 2007, T.2. No. 3. — P.12-14.
7. Treasurer V.P. Modern aspects of adaptation. – Novosibirsk: Science, sib. department, 1980. – 192 p.
8. Lebedev V.I. Extreme psychology. Mental activity in technical and ecologically closed systems. – M.: UNITY-DANA, 2001. – 431 p.
9. Health psychology / G.S. Nikiforov, V.A. Ananyev, I.N. Gurvich et al.; Under. ed. G.S. Nikiforova. – St. Petersburg: St. Petersburg University Publishing House, 2000. – 504 p.
10. Stolyarenko A.M. General and professional psychology: Textbook for secondary vocational educational institutions. - M.: UNITY-DANA, 2003. - 382 p.
11. Filippchenkova S.I. Features of overcoming stress in the professional activities of traffic police officers: Dis. ...cand. psychol. Sciences: Tver, 2002. - 268 p.

Overcoming the fear of change is the path to development

HR solver We are all afraid of change. Why?

Fear of the new is a common phenomenon in modern dynamic life. Nobody wants to leave their comfort zone, stable, familiar conditions of existence. A change of job, social circle, innovations in the professional sphere make a person worry, experience fear of the unknown, and initiate a fear of novelty. Add conservatism of thinking, life stereotypes that force you to cling to everything that is familiar, established, and understandable. A psychological barrier arises before any change, which is often associated with uncertainty and ambiguity.

In the minds of people who are afraid, change will not bring anything good. Modifying reality means leaving the usual comfort zone, losing a sense of security. People are afraid of uncertainty, unpredictability, instability: “what if the transformation of the present leads to negative consequences.”

In addition to not understanding in which direction reality will change, a person is afraid of personal changes and the need to rebuild himself. More often than not, people are not ready for new experiences, do not want to see new things, or experience fresh feelings. Conservatism of thinking and stereotypical attitudes give confidence that there is no need to develop or transform one’s personality.

What is the basis of fear of change?

1. Fear of professional changes.
2. A person is worried about unfavorable developments in the professional field. First of all there is:

• Fear of failure. This manifests itself when changing jobs or positions, introducing innovative processes, or mastering new projects. Unfamiliar, unmastered functions, novelty and updating of approaches to work lead to doubts that there will not be enough knowledge, skills, and abilities. Fear of not being able to cope with responsibility, intensity of activity, and uncertain workload.
• Fear of losing control. The employee is afraid of not being able to complete the task in time or not at the proper level, and of not rationally distributing time, effort and resources.
• Fear of embarrassment. The consequence of the first two fears is that due to failures, a person is afraid of getting into an awkward position. Feel shame, embarrassment because of your failure to meet the given standards, expectations, and job requirements.

1. Fear of personal change.
2. Personal changes are associated with a change in the team and social circle. In a new team, a person has

• Fear of being rejected. We all dream of building adequate, smooth connections with colleagues, and painlessly getting along with many new employees. At the same time, everyone is afraid of being rejected, not accepted, afraid of becoming an outcast. Afraid to do or say the wrong thing because of a lack of understanding of how others will perceive it.

• Fear of confrontation. In the process of work, everyone has to confront, in a professional sense, a colleague, a boss, outdated work methods, and broken corporate rules. This is where the newcomer’s fear of encountering a hostile, disloyal attitude, misunderstanding, and sometimes aggression, especially from management, appears.

Professional innovations, which require the acquisition of new knowledge, skills, and competencies, generate:

• Fear of losing competitiveness. The assessment of a specialist in the labor market depends on his education, professional abilities, and experience. A person, having received the desired position, works calmly. He knows that his qualifications have already been assessed when he was hired. Innovations are scary, they give rise to self-doubt, fear of not meeting new requirements, fear of not mastering innovations. On the other hand, a conservative approach, ambition, and stereotypical thinking lead to a reluctance to grow professionally, develop, and rebuild.

Fear dulls an adequate perception of reality, which is unacceptable in professional life. Today's business dictates strict conditions - it is necessary to constantly change and change the surrounding business landscape. Setting professional goals sounds harsh: “This needs to be done yesterday.”

Adaptability becomes the most important professional competence

– the ability of employees to cope with change, uncertainty, and unforeseen problems. This is the key to the success of any business, every team.

Adaptability includes:

• ability to change in response to changing circumstances
• an alternative approach to planning, taking into account the risks of change
• foresight, quick and positive reaction to changing conditions
• ability to re-prioritize in the face of change
• quickly switching from one task to another without loss of quality, taking on new tasks in the shortest possible time
• abandoning traditional work methods in favor of new, more effective ones
• influence on team members, as an example of adaptation to change
• support and assistance to colleagues in changed conditions (explanation of the situation, recommendations)
• internal mindset for development, ability to relearn.

In order for changes to seamlessly enter the life of each employee and the company as a whole, it is important to develop an integrated approach to developing adaptability among staff.

Ingredients for success:

Personal work with people allows us to identify the causes of fears, work through them in a subtle, targeted manner, and turn consciousness to a positive perception of change.

Personal, adaptation training aimed at goal setting, development of new skills, psychological adjustment to innovation, solve problems of resistance to innovations and changes in the company.

Team building gives accelerated results, a new reality. Unusual conditions and adapted mechanics help employees understand and accept the idea of ​​the importance and usefulness of changes. Makes you realize that change and innovation are the path to development - personal, professional, team.

The achievements of successful professionals are clear proof of this.

“Getting fired from Apple was the best thing in my life. The burden of success has been replaced by the agility of a beginner, unsure of anything. “I gained freedom, which allowed me to enter one of the most creatively active periods of my life,” Steve Jobs shared his experience, speaking to graduates of Stanford University.

Everyone wants to have a settled life once and for all. It’s scary to try something new - what if there are mistakes, failures, unpleasant experiences. But as Steve Jobs said:

“Take a step and the road will appear by itself.”

Yours sincerely,

Tim Timych.

Consultant of the New Reality project.

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