To paraphrase a classic, we can say that one cannot live in society and be free from its influence. What is adequacy is comprehended only in comparison with other members of society, with their perception and interpretation. If we do not fit into the established canons of behavior, we are considered either perverts or sick people. So what is adequacy and how to understand this term?
In a general sense, this is “matching the situation”. For example, the greeting should be answered kindly, otherwise we will be considered inadequate. The level and degree of manifestation of emotions also plays an important role in this regard. What is adequacy in understanding social psychology? This is the ability to observe etiquette, the standards of behavior accepted in a given society, and to remain within the framework of a "normal" lifestyle. If you are fond of martial arts, for example, but at work you do not use the appropriate techniques to convince the interlocutor, but are limited to verbal formulations, then you remain adequate. How to understand whether your behavior fits within the "canon"? Watch others. Everything is known by comparison, because if it is customary for the Papuans to say hello, rubbing their noses, this does not mean that this way of greeting will be acceptable at a meeting of shareholders of your company.
A kind of test for the adequacy of a person is often used in the selection - filtering - of potential employees already at the first interview. Indeed, the image of the enterprise and even the brand ultimately depends on the behavior of employees. If the questions of the recruiter “Where do you prefer to have dinner?”, “How do you spend your free time?” you give detailed and detailed answers, describing all your culinary preferences and devoting the interlocutor to the smallest details, most likely, you will not pass the adequacy test. How to understand
Do you fit in with the idea of "normality" or not? Listen to your interlocutor. Carefully analyze the situation of communication, try to think ahead, given the possible reactions to your words. Compliance with generally accepted norms of behavior - this is what adequacy is in the ordinary sense. Be sure to take into account interethnic features in communication. For example, if it is considered normal for a Russian person to run “for a glass of tea” to a neighbor or longtime buddy and sit there after midnight, representatives of other nations are unlikely to understand you. In Germany, it is customary to warn in advance of your visit. Do not be surprised if the hosts do not put a few dishes on the table and do not offer to spend the night, because it's too late for you to return home.
Is it possible to assess the adequacy of our attitudes, opinions, ideas? Psychologists argue that the main criterion for whether they meet the "norm" is to achieve the desired result, the goal. Of course, each of them has their own, as well as the ways of their embodiment. And it is not at all necessary that our actions will coincide with someone else's expectations. This is especially pronounced in personal relationships. If they lead to the achievement of the desired, we can assume that our installations are adequate.