EDU 403

SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT
Psychologist often make use of the term adjustment to describe various types of
social and interpersonal relations in society. Therefore, adjustment can be referred
to as the reaction on the demand and pressures of social setting imposed upon the
individual. Social adjustment is an attempt made by an individual to address the
standard of values and desires of the society so as to be accepted. It is often referred
to as a psychological method. It involves dealing in new standards and values. In the
scientific language used in psychology, “getting along with the members of the
society as best as one can” is termed to as adjustment. Social skills refers to specific
sets of abilities including cognition, verbal, and non-verbal behaviors that are
required for effective social performance. On the other hand, social competence is
referred to as overall ability of the patient to impact favorable on his/her social
settings. Lastly, social adjustments is said to be the actual meeting as instrumental
and affiliate desires that is regarded as the natural consequence of social
competence.
Social functioning has repeatedly been found to be poorer in schizophrenia than
impatience with other psychiatric problems, and such functioning is a major
prediction of the cause and outcome of the condition of patience with schizophrenia,
hence, the deficit in social skills. Deficit in social adjustment is also seen in individuals
with bipolar disorder and depression.
In psychology, adjustment reefers to the behavioral process of balancing
conflicting needs or needs challenged by obstacles in the environment. It may take
place by adapting the self to the environment or by changing the environment.
Adjustment disorder occurs when there is an inability to make a normal adjustment
to some needs or stress in the environment.
Conclusively, social adjustment is an effort made by an individual to cope with
standards, values, and needs of a society in order to be accepted. It can also be
defined as a psychological process. It involves coping with new standards and values.

GUIDING PARENTS TO GUIDE CHILDREN BASED ON PARENTING

Some children (majority of children) are shy, timid, withdrawn and defeatist.
These negative and unfavorable attitudes of children towards themselves will affect
their social and personality development. If these children are growing up to become
timid, shy, and not persisting or making effort to succeed at given task, it will lead to
life failure in these children. Four contrasting parenting styles as identified by
Santrock (1995), Disek (1996), and Melgosa (2005) : authoritative, authoritarian,
permissive and rejecting each of which has implications fr child’s behaviors. The four
parenting styles defer on two dimensions: the amount of norturance in the child’s
rearing interactions and the amount of parental control over child’s activities and
behaviors.

1. Authoritarian (autocratic) parents:

Authoritarian parents are highly directive, value obedience and are more
controlling, they show less warmth and nurturance and more distance, and
aloofness. They do not encourage discussion and debate, and are highly demanding
(Akinlade and Suleiman 2008). Melgosa (2005) in his supportive view opines that
parents categorized as authoritarian offer their children very life emotional support,
however, they want to control their behavior very closely, imposing very strict rules.
These parents hold the absolute control of power (Dusek 1996). the authoritarian
parents are intrusive and restrict their children’s autonomy. Their children have
multitude of problems and are less individualistic of pro-social values and ego
development (Santrock 1995).

2. Authoritative parents
In sharp contract, authoritative parents are warm, demanding and controlling,
but also responsive and supportive (Santrock 1995). these parents are flexible but
firm, maintaining control and discipline, but showing some reasons and flexibility as
well as communicating expectations but allowing verbal give and take (Ogunmakin
2004 and Santrock 2008). Authoritative parents expect their children to behave in
mature and responsive manner consistent with their maturity level. They teach
autonomy and self directedness, but they do not abdicate their own responsibility
for their offspring. Authoritative parents use high levels of inductive discipline and
talks matters over with their children. This type of parenting style is referred to as
democratic parents by Melgosa(2005). the important emotional support offered by
these parents provides a good attitude for dialogue in the family.

3. Permmisive Laissez-faire Parents

I. In contrast to both authoritarian and authoritative parents, permissive parents
are seen by Santrock (1995) and Melgosa (2005), is a type where parents
contribute much emotional support but exhibit very little control. These parents
are ready to listen to their children and to talk to them, but they set virtually no
restrictions for them. They avoid confrontation of problematic behavior. The
researchers explain further that the children in this kind of parenting style are
less assertive, nurture their children but fail to provide needed structure.
II. Children of negligent parents do not possess the best emotional inheritance.
They are given their freedom too soon and their parents do not care what they
do with this freedom (melgosa 2005). the result is a lack of ability to establish
good interpersonal relationship and the tendency to suffer from poor self
esteem. There are no apparent positive effects of the style. Uninvolved parents
neglect to provide either structure or love and concern.
III. Children of authoritarian parents do not seem to benefit from parental
autocracy (Melgosa 2005). most of the studies identify this style as not desirable
. In children from authoritarian families, there are higher rates of delinquency
and aggressiveness than in any of the others. The children also tend to suffer
from a poor self concept and develop a negative attitude towards their parents
ideas and beliefs. Authoritarian parenting is based on rules and punishments,
children are expected to follow the rules without Question. This type of
parenting is devoid of love and affection that are in fact very crucial in the
psychological and emotional development of their children.
IV. Children of authoritative (democratic) parents experience satisfactory feelings
with respect for themselves and a positive attitude towards their parent’s values
(Nwachukwu 1993, Dusek 1996, and Melgosa 2007). in general, this style is the
most desirable and positive according to most of the sociological studies which
 have been carried out on this subject. It is highly recommendable to provide
emotional support and to exercise a suitable degree of control over the children.
Authoritative parenting has style has rules and guidelines for behaviors but
creates a gentler and less cognitively competent and less cognitively competent
because these parents are usually manipulative, therefore, their inculcation of
morals and social responsibility does not give their children total freedom of
choice. The children here are often smart but less achievement oriented
(Akinade and Suleeiman 2008). Dusek (1996) refers to it as indulgent parenting.
But he agrees too that children have a high degree of freedom and lacks
guidance.

4. Rejecting/Neglecting Parents:
These parents express low control and low warmth on their children. They are
low on both demanding and responsiveness. They do not structure, organize,
discipline, attend or supervise their children (Santrok 1995, Dusek 1996, and
Melgosa 2005). it is referred to as a negligent style by Melgosa (2005) and indifferent
parents by Dusek (1996). For the negligent parent, children are a burden or an
obstacle which hinders them from living their own lives (Melgoa 2005). the children
of this parenting style are incompetent, anti-social, lack self regulation, have more
internalizing and externalizing problems, lower skulls on cognitive test are more
immature and rejects their parents as role models (Akinade and Suleiman 2008). it is
generally agreed by researchers that their children are most likely to use drugs and
alchohol.

COUNSELLING IMPLICATIONS OF PARENTING STYLES

Children of permissive parents are usually creative but tend to feel insecure
(Melgosa 2005). this could be explained by saying that many of these children
interpret their parents permissive attitude of a sign of lack of pride and love for
them. Permissive parents do love and have nurturing environment with room for
questions, learning and personal development. Of the four types of parenting styles,
an authoritative parent stands the chance of raising a well behaved, cultured and self
reliant child (Akinade and Suleiman 2008).