---
title: "Adjustment Definition in Psychology | Model Diplomat"
description: "Adjustment is the psychological process of harmonizing internal needs with environmental demands, crucial for effective functioning and emotional balance."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/adjustment"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Adjustment is the continuous psychological process by which an individual harmonises internal needs with environmental demands to maintain effective functioning and emotional balance.
- How does adjustment differ from adaptation?
- What are the main mechanisms of adjustment?
- Why is adjustment ethically double-edged for civil servants?
- How is adjustment linked to emotional intelligence in GS-IV?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

Adjustment is the continuous psychological process by which an individual harmonises internal needs with environmental demands to maintain effective functioning and emotional balance.

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In 2013, IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal's suspension after she acted against the sand mafia became a classic case study of refusing unprincipled "adjustment" to local political pressure while preserving administrative integrity.

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