Adaptive behavior is the ability to adjust to new situations and experiences, developing skills for successful living and interpersonal interactions. Maladaptive behavior causes problems. People of different ages can be assessed to see how well they are acquiring life skills and to determine if they need assistance or interventions.
Adaptive behavior is the ability to adjust to new situations and experiences, developing skills for successful living and interpersonal interactions. This contrasts with maladaptive behavior, in which a person develops a response to certain situations or behaviors, but causes problems, rather than generating constructive and helpful techniques for coping with life. People of different ages can be assessed to see how well they are acquiring life skills and to determine if they need assistance or interventions.
This behavior is age-appropriate, with people acquiring increasingly complex skills as they get older. For very young children, adaptive behavior can include things like refining grasping skills to reach for objects, speaking to request assistance from adults, and identifying and avoiding hazards like electrical outlets. As people get older, they acquire interpersonal communication techniques and begin to develop learning and life skills such as organizing tasks, working, and so on.
When people do not develop adaptive behavior in a timely manner, it can be a sign of a learning disability or cognitive impairment that makes it difficult for the person to acquire and apply knowledge. Many people with learning disabilities have difficulty developing behaviors that help them learn, such as the ability to focus, complete assignments, or interact with other students in a classroom setting. Intellectual disabilities such as Down syndrome can interfere with the development of adaptive behavior by making it difficult for people to learn skills and grasp increasingly complex concepts.
Parents may notice children not developing life skills on a regular timeline, and teachers may also observe problems with adaptive behavior development. A developmental psychologist can evaluate a child, using an address book and drawing on observations from people around the child to determine if the child is meeting developmental goals. Some children are naturally a little slower and may just need more time, while others may need interventions such as an aide to help them learn skills or medications to address chemical imbalances that make learning difficult for them.
Adults can develop maladaptive behavior patterns as a result of abuse and trauma. They can work with a psychologist or therapist to explore the origins of their behaviors and see if they can be changed. Someone who tends to avoid conflict, for example, might work with a therapist to be assertive with people like supervisors and family members. Therapists can help people identify adaptive behaviors they want to learn, and will work with their clients to undo previously learned behaviors and develop more appropriate skills. This can include physical therapy, as well as psychological; a person who walks with a limp due to a stroke, for example, might be working on learning to walk again.
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