Adaptive

In psychology, a behavior or trait is adaptive when it helps an individual adjust and function well within a changing social environment. A maladaptive is a behavior or trait that is not adaptive &mdash; 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. In more common indicator of normality is medical &mdash; mental illness.