Maladapted
(Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead)
A maladaptive behavior is a behavior or trait that is not adaptive — it is counterproductive to the individual. Maladaptivity is frequently used as an indicator of abnormality or mental dysfunction, since its assessment is relatively free from subjectivity. However, many behaviors considered moral can be apparently maladaptive, such as dissent or abstinence.
I sometimes marvel at how people with such an aptitude for logic, such as computer programmers, can be so poorly adjusted socially. I mean we all know that social interactions follow the basic principles of cause and effect. Similar to programming, you know that if you're testing a case, there are a number of possible outcomes and you would prepare your responses in accordance to these outcomes. So why is it that people are constantly baffled by certain human reactions? I've seen a lot of people whose intelligence completely dwarf my own (and I mean a lot of people!) and yet somehow, in the social world, I am so much more competent.
I think it has to do with exposure. I mean if you're not exposed to these reactions, and you haven't had any cause to create these types of responses, then surely you wouldn't be able to handle them at first encounter. But how is it possible that people go through their lives without experiencing these situations? Were they somehow too sheltered by their parents? Too focused on other traits that seemed far more desirable? And is there a certain prime age of learning these social skills? I mean similar to learning languages, is there somehow a diminishing learning/adaptive capacity as you get older?
I can't say I'm perfectly adapted or adaptive. I mean, ironically, I still do not know how to handle a crying woman. Though this is something I've witnessed and have been the cause of many times in my life.
These are things and questions that as I get older, I'd like to understand as to better prepare the kids I might have in the future.
