maladaptation
Counterproductive evolved feature
Maladaptation is a trait or behavior that hinders rather than helps survival or success—adaptation gone wrong.
In biology, it describes features that reduce fitness in a given environment.
In psychology and everyday use, it refers to coping mechanisms that backfire: His drinking started as stress relief but became a maladaptation.
Climate discussions use maladaptation for responses that worsen the problem they aim to solve.
Failure to adapt properly
- vestigialReduced, without current function
- disadvantageousCausing harm or hindrance
- selection pressureForce favoring certain traits
Abnormal or unhealthy operation
- rigidityState of being unbending
- inflexibilityQuality of being unbending
- overgeneralizationUnwarranted broad application
- stimulus-responseInput-output behavioral pattern
conditioned response · reinforcement · fixation · perseveration · stereotypy · compulsion · automaticity
Unconscious self-protective mental process
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
- denialRefusal to accept reality
- ruminationProlonged, repetitive thinking
- dissociationMental separation from surroundings
repression · learned helplessness · trauma response · hypervigilance · self-sabotage · emotional dysregulation · withdrawal · catastrophizing
Openness to harm
- sea level riseIncreasing ocean surface height
- unintended consequenceUnexpected outcome of action
- overcapacityBeyond maximum capacity
- lock-inEnforced continued commitment
maladjustment
Failure to adapt properly
- vestigialReduced, without current function
- disadvantageousCausing harm or hindrance
- selection pressureForce favoring certain traits
dysfunction
Abnormal or unhealthy operation
- rigidityState of being unbending
- inflexibilityQuality of being unbending
- overgeneralizationUnwarranted broad application
stimulus-response · conditioned response · reinforcement · fixation · perseveration · stereotypy · compulsion · automaticity
defense mechanism
Unconscious self-protective mental process
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
- denialRefusal to accept reality
- ruminationProlonged, repetitive thinking
dissociation · repression · learned helplessness · trauma response · hypervigilance · self-sabotage · emotional dysregulation · withdrawal · catastrophizing · displacement
vulnerability
Openness to harm
- sea level riseIncreasing ocean surface height
- unintended consequenceUnexpected outcome of action
- overcapacityBeyond maximum capacity
- evolutionevolution, natural selection, mutation, speciation, fitness
- mismanagementmishandling, dysfunction, misuse, incompetence, inefficiency
- dysfunctiondysfunction, malfunction, breakdown, failure, defect
maladaptationadaptation
Fitting to new conditions
conformation · fitness · natural selection · well-adapted · optimization
maladaptationadaptation
Fitting to new conditions
adjustment · accommodation · resilience · suitability · appropriateness