Re: Adaptive/Maladaptive behavior

Personally, I do not care for the terma. IMO, all behavior is adaptive. People do what they do to meet needs. I believe behavior becomes 'maladaptive' when it causes harm to the inidividual and/or others.

an example to illustrate my point -

The a bility to dissociate is 'adaptive' for a child raised in extreme abuse. It protects the child from the emotional and psychological trauma s/he is enduring. As an adult continuing to dissociate causes harms to the now adult child - troubled relationships, inability to hold a job, etc. The 'adaptive' behavior has become 'maladaptive'.

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