maladjustment
C1formal, academic, psychological/clinical
Definition
Meaning
Inability to cope effectively with the demands of one's environment or social norms, leading to psychological or behavioral problems.
A state of inadequate or faulty adjustment to one's life circumstances, social relationships, or work environment, often resulting in stress, conflict, or dysfunction.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used in psychology, sociology, and education contexts. Implies a failure to achieve a satisfactory state of equilibrium or harmony with one's surroundings. Often carries a clinical or diagnostic tone.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is nearly identical, though slightly more common in UK academic/clinical writing.
Connotations
Clinical, analytical, sometimes implying systemic or societal failure rather than just individual pathology.
Frequency
Low frequency in general conversation; higher in specialized fields.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
maladjustment to [something]maladjustment in [a setting/context]maladjustment among [a group]maladjustment resulting from [cause]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Could refer to an employee's failure to adapt to company culture.
Academic
Common in psychology, sociology, and education research papers.
Everyday
Very rare. A layperson might say "trouble fitting in" or "can't cope".
Technical
Standard term in clinical psychology, psychiatry, and social work for a diagnosable condition.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The child began to maladjust after the family's relocation to the new estate.
American English
- The patient maladjusted rapidly following the traumatic incident.
adverb
British English
- He behaved maladjustedly in every social situation.
American English
- The system responded maladjustedly to the crisis, worsening the outcome.
adjective
British English
- He was a profoundly maladjusted individual, unable to hold down a job.
American English
- The program focuses on helping maladjusted youth reintegrate into school.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The study examined the link between poverty and social maladjustment in teenagers.
- After the divorce, the child showed signs of emotional maladjustment at school.
- Chronic maladjustment to the workplace can be a precursor to burnout and depression.
- The therapist's diagnosis pointed to a deep-seated maladjustment stemming from early childhood trauma.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: MAL (bad/wrong) + ADJUSTMENT → a bad adjustment → failure to fit in or cope properly.
Conceptual Metaphor
ADJUSTMENT IS ALIGNMENT / BALANCE; MALADJUSTMENT IS MISALIGNMENT / IMBALANCE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с простой "неустроенностью" или "дискомфортом". "Maladjustment" — более серьёзный, часто клинический термин, близкий к "дезадаптации" или "нарушению адаптации".
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean simple discomfort or dislike (e.g., 'I feel a maladjustment in this chair').
- Confusing it with 'maladaptation' (which is more biological/evolutionary).
Practice
Quiz
Which field most frequently uses the term 'maladjustment'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not exactly. Maladjustment is a broader term for failure to cope or adapt, which can be a symptom or component of a mental illness, but can also exist without a clinical diagnosis.
Almost never. It is inherently negative, describing a problematic state. However, in some critical contexts, one might speak of 'creative maladjustment' (a la MLK Jr.) to describe a positive refusal to adjust to unjust norms.
"Social maladjustment" is likely the most frequent, especially in sociological and educational contexts.
"Maladjustment to" is the standard prepositional pattern (e.g., maladjustment to school life). "With" is not typically used.
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