Definition

1. Noun:
   • The condition of being unable to adapt properly to one's environment, leading to emotional or behavioral problems: "Maladjustment" refers to a state where an individual fails to achieve a satisfactory or healthy fit with their social, psychological, or physical surroundings, often resulting in distress or dysfunction.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • The child's social maladjustment was evident in his difficulty making friends at school.
  • Chronic maladjustment to workplace stress can lead to burnout.
  • Therapy often aims to address the root causes of a person's maladjustment.

Advanced Usage and Notes

• Psychological/Clinical Context: In psychology and psychiatry, "maladjustment" is a term used to describe a persistent failure to cope with the ordinary demands of life, which may manifest as anxiety, depression, or antisocial behavior.
  • The assessment focused on the patient's level of maladjustment following the traumatic event.
• Social Maladjustment: Specifically refers to an inability to conform to societal norms or to function effectively in social relationships.
  • The program is designed for youths showing signs of social maladjustment.

Variants and Related Words

• Maladjust (verb, rare): To adjust poorly or fail to adapt. (e.g., )
• Maladjusted (adjective): Describing a person who is poorly adjusted to their environment.
  • A maladjusted adolescent.
• Adjustment (noun): The process of adapting or becoming used to a new situation. (This is the opposite or neutral counterpart).

Synonyms

• Dysfunction: Impaired or abnormal functioning.
• Inadaptability: Lack of ability to adjust.
• Misfit: A poor match or a person not suited to their environment.

Antonyms

• Adjustment: Successful adaptation.
• Adaptation: The process of changing to fit new conditions.
• Well-adjusted: Being in a good state of psychological and social adaptation.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• School maladjustment: Difficulty adapting to the academic or social environment of a school.
  • Signs of school maladjustment include frequent absences and declining grades.
• Emotional maladjustment: Inability to manage one's emotional responses appropriately for a given situation.
• Maladjustment reaction: A dated clinical term for a pathological response to stress.

Noun

1. the condition of being unable to adapt properly to your environment with resulting emotional instability