After his birth, a person is forced throughout his life to adapt to constantly changing environmental conditions, or, in other words, to adapt to it. The concept of adaptation includes the knowledge, skills and abilities of a person to interact with the outside world and people. Those around him at the same time must also learn to interact with him.
This concept is one of the key and most widely used in many scientific disciplines: human ecology, ethnography, sociology, physiology, etc. The ability of an organism to constantly adapt to changes not only in the external environment, but also within itself also applies to the concept of adaptation. The types of adaptation that are applicable to human communities are as follows:
- biological;
- social;
- psychological;
- ethnic;
- professional.
Ifthe familiar environment changes and the person finds himself in new conditions for himself, he will need to adapt to them in order to feel comfortable. Achieving harmony in the relationship of a person with the outside world is the main goal of the adaptation process. This concept, in fact, accompanies a person's whole life.
Adaptation Mechanisms: Biological
In the process of human evolution, there was a constant adaptation to the conditions of a changing environment, which was called the biological type of adaptation. The concept of adaptation in this category includes changes under the influence of the environment in which he found himself, both his internal organs and the whole organism as a whole.
While developing criteria that determine the state of he alth or illness, doctors took this concept as a basis. If an organism is ideally adapted to its environment, then it is he althy. With a disease, his ability to adapt is markedly reduced and delayed in time. Sometimes the body may completely lack the ability to adapt. This concept was called "disadaptation".
There are two types of adaptation of the organism to the new conditions surrounding it, or two processes:
- phenotypic adaptation;
- genotypic.
In the first, which would be more correct to call acclimatization, the body has a reaction to changes in the environment, which leads to compensatory physiological changes. They help the body maintainequilibrium with the surrounding world in new states that have appeared.
If the previous conditions return, then the state of the phenotype is restored and all compensatory changes in physiology disappear.
When genotypic adaptation is the selection of useful properties in a natural way. At the same time, deep morphophysiological changes are observed in the body, which are fixed in the genes as new characteristics that can be inherited.
Psychological Adjustment
This type of adaptation, like psychological, is the longest process that continues throughout a person's life. Its importance cannot be underestimated, since the rest of his life will depend on how a person from childhood will be able to fit into the reality around him. Therefore, the very concept of psychological adaptation implies the acceptance by a person of the traditions and values of the social group in which he lives. And it exists everywhere - in kindergarten, school, labor collective.
Communication and other types of interaction with society are the main manifestations of psychological adaptation. It provides an opportunity to learn, build relationships with other people, be a member of the work team, etc.
There are several options for psychological adaptation. This concept includes the following ways:
- trial and error;
- reaction formation;
- observation;
- latent adaptation;
- insight;
- reasoning.
The method of trial and error lies in the fact that, solving some life issues and encountering obstacles along the way, a person tries to overcome them, using the life experience he already has. And only when the problem is not solved using a familiar method, he begins to look for new opportunities to solve it.
Reaction formation is a method that is something similar to "training", when the reward for the perfect action stimulates to repeat it with further improvement.
Observation. When a person enters a new environment for himself, he begins to look closely at the behavior of others and involuntarily imitate them. Gradually, in the process of adaptation in a new environment, he already begins to perform actions, without thinking about how he does it and why. Over time, a person fully develops the line of behavior adopted in this society.
Latent adaptation. Interacting with the outside world, a person constantly receives some signals from it, but not all of them are perceived at the level of consciousness. Most of all information remains in the subconscious, which is taken from there as needed when interacting with society.
Insight. The human memory stores a huge amount of information that helps to respond correctly to a particular situation. The way of insight is that when a problem occurs, the signal that has entered the brain from all possible options finds the best one to solve it.
Reasoning. When a persongets into an unfamiliar situation or encounters a problem, he begins to look for a way to adapt to it. The decision made (as a result of reasoning) is subsequently applied in the event of similar situations.
Social Adjustment
The ways in which a person interacts with his social environment, as well as the process of his adaptation to it, are included in the concept of social adaptation. This is the adaptation of the individual to the society in which he entered, and the relationship with the team, where his labor activity, education takes place.
When getting used to a new social environment, a person goes through the following stages:
- introduction into this group;
- full agreement with the norms of behavior and values accepted in this environment;
- taking an active position as a full member in this environment to promote the speedy satisfaction of mutual interests.
If he fails to adjust to his new surroundings in this environment, he may experience negative attitudes and tensions. In the process of human life, various social environments can surround: family, school, new neighbors at the place of residence, etc.
To function normally in them, he will have to go through social adaptation everywhere. This concept also includes adaptation to a new work collective, where a person will have to work. This process is called manufacturing adaptation.
Ethnic environment
Process, whenin which there is an active adaptation of ethnic groups to a new socio-cultural environment and changed natural conditions, is clearly illustrated by the Germans moving to their historical homeland, Germany, from the republics of the former USSR. The adaptation of such ethnic groups to the environment of those regions where they were settled is included in the concept of socialization and adaptation of these ethnic groups in a new place.
Studying the problems associated with the process of socio-cultural adaptation of ethnic groups in a new environment, is engaged in such a science as ethnic ecology.
There are two forms of adaptation: active and passive. In the first case, the concept of adaptation lies in the fact that here the ethnic group is trying to influence the environment in order to change it. This includes the norms and values adopted in the new environment for this ethnic group, as well as the forms of activity to which it will have to adapt.
In the passive form of adaptation, this group takes no action to change the new environment.
If the level of survival in the new socio-ethnic environment turned out to be high enough for the ethnic group, then we are talking about successful adaptation. This concept also extends to such important factors for this group as the absence of discrimination on national or racial grounds. If their presence is observed in one form or another, then mass emigration can act as an indicator of low adaptation.
Children's adaptation to society
Currently topicadaptation of children to society is increasingly coming to the fore and worries not only parents, but society as a whole. And although many parents believe that the interaction of the latter with children begins with kindergarten, this is far from the case.
The process of adaptation begins much earlier - when parents first take the baby for a walk, when he first gets to the playground, where he can meet his peers. How quickly children can adjust to their new environment depends largely on their parents.
Therefore, the concept of children's adaptation to society includes the help that they provide them at an early age (from 1 year to 3 years), teaching a small child to communicate with people, play with peers, the ability to defend their opinion, etc..
During this period, the uniqueness and individuality of the little man begins to appear, and the adults around him must do everything to create a solid foundation for the formation of a future personality, a full member of our society.
Adaptation in the professional field
It is not a secret for HR managers that, regardless of qualifications and total length of service, any newly hired employee experiences some discomfort. He is afraid of the possibility of making a mistake while completing the assigned task, he is worried about the issue of future relationships with new colleagues, etc.
In order to help such an employee quickly adapt to the team and workplace, today every company and firmdevelop special methods and programs. They clearly define the concept and essence of adaptation in the production environment.
This process usually takes 2 to 8 weeks. Its duration directly depends on the nature of the employee, his qualifications, the duties assigned to him.
HR usually consider two types of adaptation: production and non-production.
Production adaptation includes:
- professional;
- psychophysiological;
- socio-psychological;
- organizational-psychological;
- organizational and administrative;
- economic;
- hygienic.
During the production adaptation, a new employee is familiarized with the existing rules and regulations in the company.
The concept and definition of adaptation outside the workplace includes building relationships with colleagues outside the field of activity. This can be participation in various corporate parties, joint attendance at sporting events, etc.
Goals and objectives of labor adaptation
It most often acts as a process in which a new employee is included in the work within a single profession. However, this does not mean that it should be considered only as mastering certain production skills or speci alties.
The main concepts of adaptation in the workforce can be called the adaptation of a new employee to the norms of behavior that apply here, the establishment of suchrelations with colleagues, which will certainly contribute to an increase in labor efficiency, as well as mutual satisfaction of material and spiritual aspirations.
Today, studying the experience of successful foreign companies and adopting it, our HR managers began to pay more attention to young employees who need special attention in the process of adaptation.
In the process of adaptation of young employees, the administration sets the following goals:
- help the employee to master his new job in a shorter time, thereby reducing start-up costs;
- reduce turnover in the workforce by providing continuous support to the newcomer at the initial stage of his career;
- contribute to the development of a sense of satisfaction with the results of their work, and therefore a positive attitude towards the company itself;
- work with a new employee, adhering to the developed program, which will make it possible to significantly save time for both the manager and the employee.
Forms of labor adaptation
The process of labor adaptation includes seven forms. Their study provides an opportunity to delve deeper into the essence of the very concept of adaptation. We will take a closer look at the characteristics of each form below:
- Social adaptation - here the process of adapting a beginner to an unfamiliar team where he will have to work is considered. While getting used to this new environment for him, he goes through several stages: introduction, assimilation of norms of behavior, acceptance of values, active participation of the subject inlife of this environment.
- Industrial adaptation is the process of an employee's active adaptation to a new work team for him and his assimilation of all the norms and rules in force in this production area.
- Professional adaptation - a beginner is engaged in mastering additional knowledge, acquiring new skills, and also begins to develop the necessary professional qualities and a positive attitude to his work.
- Psychophysiological adaptation - adaptation to new working conditions with its physical and mental stress.
- Socio-psychological adaptation - at the same time, the employee not only masters new working conditions for him, but also adapts to the work team.
- Organizational adaptation - this form involves familiarizing the employee with the features of the organization of management in the enterprise and with his own role in it.
- Economic adaptation - this includes an understanding of what material remuneration an employee receives for his work in a particular speci alty, how wages are related to the organization of labor in production.
Stages of adaptation of people in the professional field
The concept of staff adaptation implies conditional periods of time during which a new employee is integrated into the workforce.
Let's consider four stages of employee adaptation:
- The period of assessment of the qualification level of an employee. This assessment, as a rule, is carried out at the stage of hiring a new employee. At this stage, it is determined howhe corresponds to the proposed position, whether he had previously worked in this area, whether he is familiar with the organization of labor in this company. All this information will help the personnel officer develop a plan for adapting the employee to a new job.
- Orientation stage. This stage is aimed at familiarizing the hired employee with the order of work in the company, collective values, rules of conduct, the history of the company, etc. This stage takes place during the first week.
- Period of effective orientation. This stage includes the practical actions of a new employee based on the knowledge gained and his inclusion in the work team. Here it is very important to establish feedback with the employee in order to understand exactly how much he accepts the values of the company and abides by its rules, whether he feels any discomfort.
- The stage of functioning. At this final stage, it is assumed that the new employee has completely overcome all difficulties and joined the work.
Methods used for adaptation in the team
The success and financial well-being of any company depend not only on a strong work team, but also on each individual. The concept of adaptation of an employee in a new workplace includes a number of activities aimed at developing his motivation - both external, material, and internal, personal.
The material or economic motivation is more or less clear. It directly depends on the monetary remuneration of the employee, onhow it corresponds to his qualification level. Conversely, internal motivation is closely related to a person's desire for personal growth, with the corporate culture of the company where he works. In order for an employee to have a desire to join the life of the team, it is necessary to push him to this by holding a series of events. To do this, the company is developing appropriate tools:
- Trainings, after which a person will be able to quickly join the team and get to work.
- Control of individual communication between the leader and the newcomer. It is necessary in order to know how the new employee is aware of how he copes with new responsibilities for him. This control is carried out with feedback from the employee - manager.
- A system that allows you to gradually complicate tasks for a new employee. This will help the person to join the new workflow without stress.
- Fulfillment of assignments that will contribute to the rapid establishment of informal ties with the team.
- A single information space that will enable a new employee to quickly receive information about events taking place in the company, about colleagues, how to quickly find their contacts, etc.
If the company strives to ensure that the adaptation of newcomers takes place in a shorter time, it needs to create its own corporate social network. The faster the adaptation of a newcomer to the team, the less staff turnover, which means that the efficiency of the company itself is much higher.
