maladjustment

[ mal-uh-juhst-muhnt ]

noun

1. bad or unsatisfactory adjustment.

maladjustment

/ ˌmæləˈdʒʌstmənt /

noun

1. psychol a failure to meet the demands of society, such as coping with problems and social relationships: usually reflected in emotional instability
2. faulty or bad adjustment

maladjustment

1. Inability to react successfully and satisfactorily to the demands of one's environment. Though the term applies to a wide range of biological and social conditions, it often implies an individual's failure to meet social or cultural expectations. In psychology , the term generally refers to unsatisfactory behavior patterns that cause anxiety and require psychotherapy .

Word History and Origins

Origin of maladjustment¹

First recorded in 1825–35; mal- + adjustment

Example Sentences

To be clear: I am not suggesting that intelligence across the full range of scores is generally related to maladjustment.

From Scientific American

Studies show that child survivors of a parent’s suicide might as adults be susceptible to depression, social maladjustment and post-traumatic stress disorder.

From Golf Digest

Child victims of a parent's suicide often are susceptible to depression, social maladjustment and post-traumatic stress disorder.

From Golf Digest

“I see. And that is where those trifling maladjustments come in which you mentioned awhile ago—steel, hydroponics and so on.”

From Literature

A Western observer might shrink in horror from this practice, imagining long-lasting emotional maladjustments from early trauma.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• insanity
• mental disorder