Adequacy is a term considered within the framework of the whole society and individual situations. Today, as a rule, such criteria of human adequacy are identified as restraint of emotional reactions, social activity, sociability, setting goals and the desire to realize them, the ability to feel a wide range of feelings, and the correspondence of the emotional response to the situation. The concept of adequacy means a person’s compliance with existing circumstances, situations, expectations, established standards, views, and social norms. In epistemology, it means supposedly complete or absolute correspondence with something.
The line between adequacy and inadequacy?
Adequacy is a psychological state that defines an individual as a normal member of society that meets expectations.
The adequacy of clinical conditions is diagnosed by a psychiatrist and in everyday life by everyone.
This is not a constant; public morality changes significantly every generation. The subjectivity of the concept of Adequacy is emphasized by the fact that the meaning invested in it changes with the development of society and the person himself.
For example, among ignorant people, in a fit of passion or religious virtue, the concepts of adequacy and inadequacy can be very different. Perhaps this is why inadequacy is often used as a label that can be hung on almost anyone if their words or actions do not fit into the image of someone else's worldview.
The origin of the word is from Lat. "Adaequatus" - equal. According to the theory of knowledge – “appropriate”. Absolute adequacy is a hypothetical phenomenon, identical, for example, to absolute truth and its criteria.
It is impossible to be “adequate in general”, only to something or in relation to something, so this definition is always in some sense relative, abstract.
An adequate point of view says that a person has a personal opinion, but at the same time perfectly understands what society expects from him and how his opinion is subjective and objective within the framework of society at the present time.
Inadequacy is, accordingly, the opposite of adequacy. When a person does not meet society's expectations and behaves differently than is accepted. His reactions to certain actions or words of other people do not correspond to accepted norms and social standards.
The concepts of adequacy/inadequacy are used not only in psychology, but in psychiatry, philosophy, and even mathematics.
Etymology
The word is of Latin origin. Adaequatus means "equalized" or "equalized". Despite the fact that etymologically the word comes from Latin, it seems that Russian people adopted it not from the original source, but from English. In her famous work “The Living and the Dead Word” (1972), Nora Gal condemns translators who copy and translate using the word “adequately”. It is better, she believes, to replace the definitions with “equivalent” or “equivalent.” We'll talk about this later when we talk about synonyms. For now, let’s move on to the immediate meaning of the word “adequate.”
What is appropriate behavior?
Adequate behavior is behavior that does not contradict common sense and the expectations of society. An individual with adequate behavior is recognized as a member of society and can claim mutual understanding, career growth, etc.
As a rule, adequate individuals choose ways to achieve goals that fit into social and legal norms.
Inappropriate behavior, accordingly, contradicts common sense and expectations. At the extreme level it is called deviant.
There are different explanations for it - social upheavals, problems of education, etc. Extreme points of manifestation can be found in: crime, alcoholism, drug addiction, sexual perversions, consent to sex for money, excessive aggressiveness, self-torture, and suicidal tendencies.
