Psychology of Adjustment Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What does adjustment mean in psychology and how is it determined in individuals?

Adjustment is defined as coping with everyday problems. It can be determined by viewing if someone has their life in balance or not.

Identify the different types of internal and external change that humans experience.

External changes include muscle growth, age, height, and weight. Internal changes include brain maturity, perception, and adaptation to change based on internal view.

Describe various ways that individuals perceive change.

Some view stress as being stressful and fight against it if it is unplanned. Planned changes are in one's control, so a person may view the problem optimistically.

Discuss the two traditions in psychology that influence the study of adjustment.

The two traditions are interdisciplinary and psychoeducation. Signup and view all the answers

Summarize the approach of interdisciplinary psychology.

Interdisciplinary psychology takes approaches from various fields and fuses them into one way of viewing adjustment. Signup and view all the answers

What is adjustment and what complexities may be involved in determining it?

Adjustment is coping with everyday stressors in life. It involves experiencing a problem and slowly shifting the view of that problem to something that is made right. Signup and view all the answers

Define goodness of fit. How does it relate to the topic of adjustment?

Goodness of fit consists of matching context with behaviors. It helps study how humans react to specific adjustments based on habitual actions. Signup and view all the answers

What does the positive life experience approach to adjustment contribute?

The positive psychology approach indicates that individuals may also develop positive habits. Signup and view all the answers

Give an example of mind-body health linkage. How have you seen this applied in your life?

A good example is sleep. If a person decides to get a poor night's sleep (physical actions), the brain (mental) suffers for an additional 9 days. Signup and view all the answers

Discuss two ways to classify and consider change.

Change can occur during human development or be brought about by societal changes that everyone experiences. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the various perceptions of change.

Individuals define change as stressful or beneficial, by planning or experiencing it by chance. The salutogenic approach involves coming to terms with an event. Signup and view all the answers

Think of a major change you experienced in your life. What was your perception of this change?

When discharged from the military, I failed to properly plan and faced uncertainty and pain. Signup and view all the answers

What are the advantages of an interdisciplinary approach?

The interdisciplinary approach views issues from many subjects, helping to analyze them through a comprehensive scope. Signup and view all the answers

Define psychoeducation.

Psychoeducation is the study of thoughts, actions, behaviors, and reactions to a range of issues. Signup and view all the answers

Which two chapters interested you the most and why?

Chapter 13 is interesting because it elaborates on dealing with inevitable life changes. Signup and view all the answers

Define adjustment.

Adjustment is the ability to cope with everyday stressors. Signup and view all the answers

Define autonomic nervous system.

The autonomic nervous system is the uncontrolled part of the central nervous system. Signup and view all the answers

Define competent individual.

A competent individual can adapt to circumstances regardless of age or situation. Signup and view all the answers

Define context.

Context refers to the circumstances surrounding an event. Signup and view all the answers

Define ecological.

Ecological refers to the relation of living organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings. Signup and view all the answers

Define general adaptation syndrome.

General Adaptation Syndrome describes the sequence of physiological arousal in response to an environmental stressor. Signup and view all the answers

Define goodness of fit.

Goodness of fit consists of matching context with behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Adjustment in Psychology

Adjustment is the process of coping with everyday challenges and stressors.
Determined by the balance an individual maintains in various aspects of life.

Internal and External Changes

External changes: associated with physical developments such as muscle growth, aging, height, and weight.
Internal changes: relate to mental developments including brain maturity and perceptions, influencing adaptation to change.

Perception of Change

Stressful and unplanned changes often provoke defensive reactions, while planned changes are usually met with a more optimistic outlook.

Influential Traditions in Psychology

Two main traditions impacting the study of adjustment: interdisciplinary approaches that integrate multiple fields, and psychoeducation focusing on thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Interdisciplinary vs. Psychoeducation

Interdisciplinary: merges insights from various fields to enhance understanding of adjustment.
Psychoeducation: explores the interactions between cognition, emotion, and behavior in response to issues.

Complexities of Adjustment

Adjustment involves navigating everyday stressors and gradually reframing challenges as manageable situations.

Goodness of Fit

Defined as the alignment between behavioral responses and contextual demands.
Examines how habitual behaviors correlate with an individual's adjustment to different circumstances.

Positive Life Experience Approach

Emphasizes the importance of cultivating positive habits, contributing to overall well-being and resilience in the face of challenges.

Mind-Body Health Linkage

Illustrates that physical well-being, such as quality of sleep, significantly impacts mental health, with long-lasting effects from poor physical choices.

Classifying Change

Change classification can focus on human development stages or societal shifts experienced collectively.

Perceptions of Change

Individuals can view change as either a stressor, a positive or negative experience, based on planning or randomness, with the salutogenic approach indicating a constructive acceptance of change.

Personal Experience with Major Change

Example of a military discharge resulting in unpredictability and emotional distress due to lack of planning.

Advantages of Interdisciplinary Approach

Offers a broad view of issues by incorporating diverse academic perspectives, resulting in a more comprehensive understanding.

Definition of Psychoeducation

Engages with how thoughts, behaviors, and emotional reactions interact with various challenges.

Interest in Subsequent Chapters

Chapter 13 stands out for its focus on coping strategies for inevitable life changes.

Overview of Key Definitions

Adjustment: The ability to cope effectively with everyday stress.
Autonomic Nervous System: The part of the nervous system responsible for involuntary functions.
Competent Individual: Someone adept at adapting to various situations, irrespective of age.
Context: The circumstances surrounding an event or behavior.
Ecological: Pertaining to the relationships between living organisms and their environments.
General Adaptation Syndrome: A model describing the body's physiological response to stress.

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Description

Discover the key concepts of adjustment in psychology through these flashcards. Learn about the definition of adjustment, how it is assessed, and the various types of internal and external changes that individuals experience. A great resource for psychology students and anyone interested in mental wellness.