What are the Signs of Maladaptive Behavior?

As we age and life becomes more complex to navigate, our tendency to engage in maladaptive behaviors to cope with such changes can occasionally increase. We are inclined to utilize our most comfortable skills and habits that help us in getting through the day in the easiest way possible using the least amount of effort and resources. But how do we know if these coping behaviors are maladaptive? The American Psychological Association has an excellent definition of maladaptive behaviors that describe such as any behaviors that are detrimental, counterproductive, or otherwise interfere with optimal functioning in various domains; in other words, behaviors that may solve our problem in the moment but create a larger issue later. Below we will dive into a couple of the most common signs of maladaptive behaviors: avoidance, anger/aggression, and substance use.

Avoidance

Avoidance is one of the most common examples of maladaptive behavior due to its prevalence in multiple domains (i.e., emotional, physical, etc.) and simplicity in use. If one is faced with a challenging task at hand, one can simply choose not to engage, push it off to a later date, or refuse to address it altogether. These are simple solutions that require minimal effort. But how can the tendency to avoid become maladaptive? The consequences associated with avoidance can include ultimately avoiding dealing with the root causes of the issue, not meeting your own needs, and exacerbating the problem entirely. For example, George is experiencing frustration with a fellow coworker whom he believes does not carry their weight with shared responsibilities. Rather than confronting the coworker using open communication, George has avoided addressing the concern with his coworker which has led to the coworker continuing to miss their shared deadlines, created more work for George, and forced George to work overtime to make up the slack.

Anger

Another sign of maladaptive behavior is exhibiting anger and aggression. In the face of major stress, meeting the stressor with anger or aggression is sometimes an easier default emotion than approaching stress with patience and acceptance, especially when the stressor is overwhelming. These negative emotions can be harder to manage and work towards changing the longer we default to this maladaptive behavior. However, there are several consequences to exhibiting anger and aggression, including taking these feelings out on others and negatively affecting relationships. Going back to the above example with George and his coworker, if George began displaying angry and aggressive behaviors in the workplace towards his coworker, he could risk negatively affecting the workplace morale, being written up, and potentially being fired.

Substance Abuse