maladaptiveadj.
/ˌmaləˈdaptɪv/, U.S. /ˈˌmæləˈdæptɪv/ Imperfectly or abnormally adaptive; characterized by maladaptation.
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the world > life > biology > biological processes > evolution > [adjective] > adapted or specialized
specialized1854
adapted1859
maladaptive1931
fit1959
the mind > mental capacity > psychology > theory of psychoanalysis > libido > want of confidence > [adjective] > badly adopted
maladaptive1931
1931 Brit. Jrnl. Psychol. 21 334 Prof. Fisher begins his study of the abnormal by considering..how maladaptive the responses of the normal individual often are, when he is faced with a difficult situation.
1957 P. Lafitte Person in Psychol. v. 58 Three modes of adaptive and eight modes of maladaptive behaviour that are used in response to frustration.
1974 Times Lit. Suppl. 30 Aug. 923/5 The hypertrophied human brain has become as maladaptive as the dinosaur's armour.
1992 Sci. Amer. Jan. 123/1 If the snail's conspicuous headgear seems maladaptive, don't shrug it off as an evolutionary fluke.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2000; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1931