What is social maladaptation in psychology and what are its signs

General information

This term has taken root in people's lives. It may seem surprising to some that with the development of innovative technologies, many people feel loneliness and become unadapted to the conditions of the surrounding reality. Some individuals are not able to navigate even in ordinary situations and do not know how to behave in this or that case.

The concept of social maladaptation, as a rule, is considered to be the partial or complete inability of an individual to the surrounding reality and its conditions. A person who suffers from maladjustment is unable to interact normally with other individuals. Such a person will either regularly avoid contact or exhibit aggressive behavior. This condition is characterized by increased irritability and inability to accept someone else's point of view.

Such maladaptation appears when an individual stops noticing what is happening in the real world, completely disappears in his reality, replacing relationships with living people. In this case, there is a loss of personal growth.

There are two types of diabetes.

1. Partial maladjustment. There is a dropout from public life. A typical example is how a person goes to work for the first time after a long illness. During this period, he had no communication with colleagues, but friends and relatives were present.
2. Complete disadaptation. There is a loss of faith in one’s own strengths, and a lack of trust in people develops. The person does not know how to behave and does not represent the norms of society. It seems that something is not happening as it should.

Both types can be present in people who have addictions. Deviant behavior always goes along with maladaptation to varying degrees of manifestation.

There are five levels of development of diabetes.

1. Zero stage. There are no personal deformations, values ​​are not changed. Only minor forms of behavioral changes, rough treatment, and disobedience appear. Solution to the problem: social education, instilling in a person the beliefs of social norms, information.
2. Negative social attitudes. Personal deformation is still absent, however, strong dependence on others appears. A person may start experimenting with smoking and alcohol. Prevention technology includes warning of career guidance in relation to the child’s immediate environment and himself.
3. Systematic. There are manifestations of delinquent behavior, theft, hooliganism, and fights. It is chronic in nature, and the beginnings of personality disadaptation appear. The beginnings begin in violations of the motivational-need sphere of a person; he has fewer interests and goals in life. In such a situation, social correction is necessary to correct the behavior.
4. Addiction, dependence. An individual's behavior poses a danger to other people. Rehabilitation is required, the main thing is that the person himself wants to change.
5. Resistance. The individual opposes all norms and tries to change the world. Personal deformation is already irreversible. A person has a formed opposite value system. At this stage, resocialization is necessary, which will be manifested by a change in the attitudes, norms, goals and life values ​​of the individual.

Theory and practice

The problem of social maladaptation is gaining momentum and is more relevant in modern society than ever. This is due to the interests of children and adolescents in social networks and games. The virtual world and Internet communication replace reality and connections with real people. Recently, this has often been observed in adults. In addition, the too sharp division of society into rich and poor has given rise to such a phenomenon as bullying. It also becomes one of the factors because of which a person breaks off all relations with society.

In this regard, numerous studies are being conducted. Psychologists, psychotherapists, sociologists, doctors, and scientists are trying to cover as wide a range of factors as possible that lead to such a disorder of personality and behavior. After all, without eliminating the main cause, its correction is impossible.

Until recently, psychology had a dozen names for a socially maladjusted child: neglected, difficult, dysfunctional, at risk, with behavioral deviations, with a traumatized psyche, with deformed behavior. Today, all these concepts continue to exist, but in most research works they are replaced by the term “maladaptive”. The most interesting thing is that it has also begun to be used in relation to adults who are experiencing problems trying to adapt to the conditions of society, but failing in this.

As researchers of this problem note, the age limit for social maladaptation has become older. If previously it was diagnosed mainly in children and adolescents, today company psychologists say that about 25% of their employees experience serious difficulties in establishing contacts with their colleagues and superiors. These are disappointing figures, forcing specialist scientists to look for new ways to correct this disorder, because not all tools that successfully work on the child’s psyche are just as strong when affecting adults.

Specialists dealing with issues of social maladaptation: Mamaichuk I. I., Belicheva S. A., Grigorenko E. L., Sobkin V. S., Gindikin V. Ya., Kazanskaya V. G., Lichko A. E., Lebedinskaya K. S., Lubovsky V. I., Feldshtein D. I. They have fundamental works on this topic, which include both theoretical calculations and practical methods for correcting the disorder.

Causes

Conflict behavior is a possible reason for the development of social maladaptation

1. Pedagogical neglect. The presence of inattentive attitude towards the child, lack of care and proper care. When a child is not given enough attention, he withdraws into himself and feels that no one needs him. When he grows up, he can become withdrawn and withdraw into the inner world. Disadaptation will develop gradually over several years, and may also be sudden. If a child felt that he was useless, then, as he grew up, he would have difficulty understanding others. Disadaptation deprives one of moral strength, deprives one of faith in one’s own capabilities and in oneself. Difficulties arise with self-determination, the inability to find one’s place in the sun.
2. Loss of the usual team. It may occur in situations where there has been a long-term illness or a change in activity. Disadaptation manifests itself after some time in the reluctance to leave the house, perform everyday duties, take care of oneself, or see someone. A person can throw himself into work and focus on himself. Gradually he will understand that he can act without anyone's help, other people will begin to irritate him. Over time, all sorts of fears will develop regarding communication with other people and interaction with them. For example, creative individuals spend a lot of time alone with themselves, this is how they gain inspiration in order to be able to realize themselves in their work. But at the same time they do not have the opportunity to share their joy with someone.
3. Conflict with the environment. An individual can challenge the whole society, she will feel unprotected. Conflict is very exhausting, creates mistrust and suspicion, destroys character as a whole, and a feeling of helplessness arises. DM is a consequence of the inability to build correct relationships with other people and with the outside world.

Concepts

Crisis

The most famous concept is the crisis one. Its author is V.V. Kozlov, a Russian psychologist working in the field of social psychology, the founder of “integrative psychology.” In his opinion, this type of maladjustment develops according to the following scheme:

1. A person has a tendency to auto-aggressive reactions to difficult (crisis) life situations.
2. Each such crisis creates personal negative disintegration.
3. It, in turn, becomes overgrown with destructive changes in relationships with others.
4. Every time there is an increasing increase in social autism.

According to V.V. Kozlov, auto-aggressive individuals who are not resistant to crisis conditions and ultimately close themselves off from society are susceptible to chronic self-destruction. It most often manifests itself as suicidal tendencies, alcoholism and drug addiction.

Medical

There are a number of psychologists who consider social maladjustment to be a consequence of various mental illnesses. They do not consider it as an independent pathology. Only after a person is diagnosed with behavioral disorders and personality disorders does it manifest itself.

Indeed, with schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder and other pathologies, it is difficult to establish connections with others. Such people cannot learn the basic rules of behavior in society, the simplest social attitudes. This leads to maladjustment. Accordingly, to eliminate such consequences, psychiatric (most often) treatment is required.

However, this concept does not consider as a separate phenomenon the same adolescent social maladaptation, which usually has nothing to do with physiology. This is the downside of the approach.

Psychological

It is closely related to Kozlov’s crisis concept, as it reflects the processes occurring with the individual. However, with this approach, a person can “fall out” of society without experiencing any crisis. This happens at the moment of realizing that one’s own values ​​do not coexist with the rules of existence in society.

For example, a person by nature does not like submission and total outside control. It is quite natural that with such accentuations it will be difficult for him to get along with his boss at work and constant deadlines. He will do his best to limit his communication with colleagues and his boss. Often such people open their own business and delegate authority to a deputy, enjoying complete freedom.

From the point of view of this approach, it is possible to explain the mechanism of development of any social maladjustment, and this is its undoubted advantage.

Characteristic manifestations

Aggression is a possible manifestation of social maladaptation

I bring to your attention the signs that characterize this condition.

1. Aggression. It manifests itself for the reason that a person, without normal communication, loses this skill. The individual no longer strives to be understood; it is much easier for him to get what he wants using manipulation. This manifestation poses a danger both to the person himself and to his environment.
2. Withdrawal into oneself. Closedness appears, the person stops counting on the help of others. It’s easier to do everything yourself, there are no relationships with other people, the person doesn’t make new acquaintances.
3. Social phobia. Over time, an individual stops building social connections; he no longer has close people who would be interested in his internal state. Fear of new acquaintances appears due to the need to change something in one’s attitude towards the reality around him.
4. Reluctance to comply with the requirements accepted in society.

Levels

First

Names: initial stage, hidden, lower, latent.

Signs: not detected, since everything happens inside a person. He begins to think that he is afraid or does not want to build relationships with others. At this level, the reason why ties with others will subsequently be severed is clearly identified.

How the initial stage of social maladaptation is interpreted in psychology: it is compared with the latent, incubation stage of the disease, when the virus has already entered the body, but is still only preparing the ground for its activation.

Correction: social maladaptation has not yet been diagnosed, but the cause that served as the impetus can be identified and eliminated (if possible). If this happens, a person will be able to continue to easily establish contacts and build relationships in society, living safely according to its rules.

Second

Name: “half” level.

Signs: maladaptive perturbations make themselves felt, but are temporary in nature. A person can lock himself in his room and not leave there for several days, refusing to communicate in person, by phone, or on social networks. But then he behaves as usual: smiles, talks, jokes, meets with friends.

How it is interpreted: as the prodromal period of the disease, when its “harbingers” manifest themselves. But the diagnosis itself is still difficult to make, because the symptoms are too nonspecific and typical of many other ailments. After all, every person at some point may feel bad and will not want to communicate with anyone. This does not mean that he is socially maladjusted.

Correction: if a socially maladjusted person at this stage visits a psychologist or shares his experiences with someone, the specialist and loved ones can see the beginning of a developing problem. You just need to connect the provoking factor and these very “harbingers”. In this case, with the help of conversations and support from friends, the development of deviation can be stopped.

Third

Name: Steadily Incoming.

Signs: social maladaptation manifests itself and becomes noticeable to everyone around. Its characteristic features allow you to clearly see the problem. A person breaks off previous contacts, does not make new ones, and avoids people. From a mental point of view, all those adaptive mechanisms that have been formed over the years up to this point are destroyed.

How it is interpreted: as a period of full development of the disease, when the signs are clearly expressed and allow a correct diagnosis to be made.

Correction: will take a long time, but will lead to successful results. It is impossible without a psychologist and the support of loved ones. The main task is to prevent violations from moving to the next level of development and becoming an established pattern of behavior.

Fourth

Title: entrenched social maladjustment.

Signs: a person’s closedness from others extends to most areas of his life. He may refuse to communicate even with the closest people (parents, children, spouse). Often he stops going to work, school, or the store - just to avoid a collision with society.

How it is interpreted: as the transition of the disease to a chronic form.

Correction: long-term (from six months or more), complicated by stable patterns of behavior. This work must be carried out by a psychologist. In the most advanced cases, a psychotherapist. To get to the bottom of the true reason that led to this, hypnosis is often used.

Disadaptation in children

Today there is a critical situation that has developed in society associated with the social maladjustment of children. Increasingly, manifestations such as:

• reluctance to learn;
• pedagogical neglect;
• increased fatigue;
• severe exhaustion;
• lack of focus;
• problems with concentration;
• alcoholism at an early age.

The formation of such manifestations is influenced by social and biological circumstances. The adaptation of a young person in the social environment is influenced by the conditions of his socialization in the children's environment.

The reasons for the appearance of problems in childhood include:

• inadequacy of self-evaluation at the time of communication;
• lack of communication skills, even basic ones;
• excessive demands on one’s environment, especially when the child is superior to his peers in certain parameters;
• emotional instability;
• anxiety and fear of communication;
• isolation;
• predominance of one's own self, a feeling of superiority over others.

Depending on what factors influenced the development of social maladaptation, the child may either submit to being pushed out of the circle of peers or independently leave them, while being embittered, wanting revenge.

When a child lacks communication skills, it is a significant barrier to interpersonal relationships.

Disadaptation in the social sphere can manifest itself:

• excessive aggression of the child;
• low self-esteem;
• lack of desire to communicate;
• imbalance, which can manifest itself as mood swings;
• isolation;
• showing your emotions in public.

This condition is very dangerous for children, as it can lead to serious consequences, namely:

• personal deformations;
• delayed mental and physical development;
• brain dysfunction;
• loneliness;
• disorders of the nervous system, in particular aggressiveness, suppression of the instinct of self-preservation, problems in relationships with other people and peers, and suicide.

Signs

What may be the signs of socio-psychological maladaptation and problem behavior:

• non-recognition of the rules of cultural behavior, saturation (disgust) of activities that everyone performs;
• imbalance;
• withdrawal, a form of autism;
• excessive excitability to the point of aggression or the opposite pole - inhibition, sometimes they can alternate;
• defiant behavior and actions;
• participation in informal groups;
• deliberate opposition of oneself to others;
• weak strategic forecasting (lateness, broken promises);
• solving problems with pressure, rudeness, fights or tears, hysterics, attempts to run away and hide;
• social phobia.

Social maladjustment of the individual is expressed differently depending on the levels of its development.

During adolescence

Today, young people are increasingly being diagnosed with depression. They still have a long, happy life ahead of them, but they are not able to take active action and overcome difficulties. It turns out that an adult must learn to enjoy life in a new way, because he is rapidly losing this skill. The same applies to depression in childhood. In the modern world, teenagers prefer virtual communication over real communication; they use the Internet to realize all their needs. Social networks and computer games are actually replacing human interaction.

Personality develops in the process of its life activity, when a change in the child’s attitude to reality occurs. Under the influence of environmental conditions and the presence of internal factors, the child develops maladjustment, which manifests itself in deviant behavior. In adolescence, there is a disruption in the process of socialization, deformation of value and reference orientations, and a decrease in the significance of the influence of teachers and parents.

Schoolchildren are increasingly showing maladaptation, because the modern educational system does not contribute to the normal socialization of the individual. In addition, it aggravates the process of diabetes associated with difficulties in family upbringing, which manifests itself in even greater anomalies in the behavior of adolescents. That is why today more and more teenagers have a negative socialization process, and juvenile delinquency is increasing.

The high growth of maladjusted adolescents is influenced by such contradictions as:

• indifference to bad habits in the school environment;
• lack of fight against absenteeism;
• lack of educational work with schoolchildren;
• the presence of teenagers who dropped out of school.

This leads to the fact that children in adolescence increasingly join criminal groups, and deviant, illegal behavior develops there. The development of maladjustment in adolescents is the result of social alienation of young people from society.

Typical manifestations of diabetes in school include:

• underachievement may manifest itself as a chronic process, lack of mastery of the general education program and learning skills;
• incorrect attitude towards the learning process as a whole, as well as towards individual subjects, teachers, while behavior can be either indifferent, demonstrative or passive;
• constantly recurring deviations in behavior during the learning process, in particular, violation of discipline, neglect of school rules, vandalism.

There are two types of maladaptation in adolescence.

1. School. Inconsistency of the socio-psychological and psychophysical state of children with the requirements of schooling. There are difficulties in mastering skills, knowledge, and sometimes the impossibility of learning.
2. Social. Behavior does not comply with the principles adopted for children and adolescents. It may manifest itself:

• antisocial behavior;
• violation of norms, rights and morals;
• alienation from the main institutions of socialization;
• in suicidal tendencies;
• deformations of the system of values ​​and social attitudes;
• internal self-regulation;
• in a sharp deterioration in neuro-mental health;
• teenage alcoholism.

Based on the degree of depth, two stages of maladjustment are distinguished:

• the first one represents pedagogically neglected students;
• the second is socially neglected teenagers. It is characterized by alienation from school, from family, from institutions of socialization. Development occurs under the influence of endogenous and social factors. Teenagers are characterized by neglect, vagrancy, drug addiction, and have a negative attitude towards work.

Social and psychological maladjustment in adolescence develops under the influence of a number of factors:

• heredity;
• defects in family and school education;
• social factor, in particular, socio-economic and social conditions of functioning in society;
• the presence of deformations in society itself;
• the result of the activity of the individual himself, which begins with a selective attitude towards the values ​​and norms of the environment.

Types of social adaptation

Definition 2

Social adaptation is a special process that is controlled both from the outside and by the person himself, who needs to adapt to new conditions. In fact, self-government is the basis of social adaptation, because only a person himself can realize the importance of his adaptation and find optimal ways to perceive new conditions, without violating established social norms.

There are several main types of social adaptation, which researchers subdivide according to a specific set of characteristics. Of course, it is worth immediately clarifying that social adaptation is the most dominant type, but we would like to clarify the meaning of each:

1. Managerial adaptation , or as it is also called “organizational” - it implies that without management no social system can exist and perform its functions. In this regard, thanks to managerial adaptation, management can provide a person with the most favorable conditions, as well as create the prerequisites for the further development of the human personality, ensuring his professional and daily life activities.
2. Economic adaptation is a process that has developed during the assimilation of new social and economic norms and principles that society has. This is adaptation to working conditions, wages, social benefits, pensions, as well as to the conditions of social insurance that new societies provide to a person. Without material resources, a person simply will not be able to regulate and satisfy his needs, so economic adaptation also plays a rather important role.
3. Pedagogical adaptation is the process of adaptation to the education system, its standards and norms. Education plays a very important role in a person’s life, since education and upbringing are continuous. A person graduates from school or university, but still continues to study, which gives him the opportunity to improve and silently adapt to new conditions.

Condition correction

New acquaintances and communication with other people are a method of combating diabetes

1. Creating social contacts is important.
2. If there is no one left among your acquaintances, try to meet someone new, try to communicate wherever possible. There is no need to be afraid that you will be perceived as a stupid person, remain yourself.
3. Find yourself a hobby, go to a specialized club. Attend trainings and courses. There you can find people with similar interests and make new acquaintances.
4. Try to get a permanent job to form a social circle. Realize that without live communication it is impossible to exist normally.
5. Conquer your doubts and fears. If you can’t cope with them on your own, seek help from a psychologist.
6. Correction of this condition in children includes special trainings that teach the development of communication skills, psychotechnical classes, personality development from different sides, and relaxation.

Prevention

Prevention also includes actions aimed at children who have shown the first signs of social maladaptation

1. Primary. Aimed at preventing the development of possible problems and unfavorable conditions that may influence the formation of maladjustment.
2. Secondary. Aimed at recognizing early manifestations of maladjustment, reducing the impact of bad factors, and working with children who are at risk.
3. Tertiary. Carrying out special events in the presence of signs of maladjustment that have already appeared. Aimed at preventing the formation of new manifestations.

Now you know what the causes of social maladjustment are. Knowing them, a person is able to prevent the development of such a condition. If you notice characteristic manifestations in yourself, then it is better not to remain idle, but to immediately begin making adjustments in order to prevent the consequences from developing.

Classification

Depending on the reasons:

• physiological/pathogenic;
• socio-psychological.

Depending on the nature of the manifestation:

• behavioral/overt;
• deep / hidden.

Depending on the area of ​​manifestation:

• worldview / socio-ideological;
• communicative;
• subjective-personal.

By depth of coverage:

• general / complete;
• private/partial.

By nature of occurrence:

• primary;
• secondary.

Currently, all of the above classifications are used for diagnosis and correction in children and adults. Such diversity makes it possible not to miss a single aspect in the description of the disorder, and this, in turn, helps to select the most successful correction tools.