Maladaptiva

Maladaptiva is a term used in behavioral science and design studies to describe strategies, policies, or traits that are rational within a limited context but become maladaptive when the context changes. The term is a neologism derived from maladaptive with the suffix -iva, intended to emphasize systemic or holistic aspects rather than individual pathology.

Definition and scope include that maladaptiva is not a formal diagnosis or universally defined category. It refers to patterns of behavior, organizational practices, or ecological interactions that confer short-term advantages or efficiency under specific conditions but reduce resilience, flexibility, or long-term success as external conditions evolve.

Examples are used to illustrate the concept across domains. In psychology, avoidance coping can be seen as maladaptiva if it relieves immediate anxiety but hinders long-term functioning. In ecology, a species may be well adapted to a recent climate regime yet rapidly becomes maladaptiva as climate shifts. In technology, a user interface optimized for a narrow user cohort may become maladaptiva when user needs broaden or contexts change, leading to poor usability.

Characteristics of maladaptiva include context-dependence, scalability to systems, and reversibility with context changes or deliberate redesign. Critics argue that the concept overlaps with maladaptation and path dependence, and caution is needed to avoid overgeneralization.

History and usage indicate that the term appears in scattered theoretical discussions and is sometimes employed in science communication to illustrate the danger of optimizing for short-term gains without considering long-term sustainability. It is not widely standardized.

See also: Maladaptive coping, Adaptation, Resilience, System dynamics, Design thinking.