Maladaptation

Maladaptation refers to an inappropriate or ineffective response to external challenges or environmental changes, often resulting in detrimental consequences for an organism or a system. This term is frequently used in disciplines such as biology, psychology, and sociology to describe a failure to adapt, leading to difficulties in survival, functioning, or well-being.

Maladaptation meaning with examples

• In clinical psychology, maladaptation manifests when individuals develop harmful coping mechanisms in response to stress, such as substance abuse, which can exacerbate their mental health issues instead of promoting healing and resilience.
• Ecologists study maladaptation in species that fail to adjust to climate change, observing that polar bears may struggle to find food as their sea ice habitat diminishes, showcasing the negative effects of environmental shifts on biodiversity.
• Maladaptation can also be seen in social contexts, where communities resistant to change may persist in outdated practices that hinder their development and ability to thrive in a rapidly evolving world, creating socioeconomic challenges.
• In education, maladaptation might occur when students face high-stakes testing pressures, leading some to adopt strategies that prioritize short-term success, such as cheating, rather than genuine learning, ultimately undermining their long-term academic growth.