ABSTRACT
A child is termed maladjusted when his adjustment is so poor that his unhappiness deflects his development from its expected route. Such children can show their condition in many ways – not necessarily in overt antisocial behaviour. Maladjusted behaviour is to some extent relative to the life-situation in which the pupil finds himself. Behaviour disturbance is not confined to children. Adults in charge of children can cause terrible damage by their own maladjustment. Immaturity or mental disturbance in teachers can bring distress to both children and school staff, though stress and conflict in the classroom will affect each child differently. What is normal and what is abnormal behaviour depends on: the individual concerned, the situation he is in, and the consistency of the behaviour. Children's behaviour must be individually evaluated in the context of the eternal triangle of home-school-child. Then, what is and what is not maladjusted behaviour may become clearer.
