maladjustment

[ mal-uh-juhst-muh nt ]
/ ˌmæl əˈdʒʌst mənt /

noun

bad or unsatisfactory adjustment.

Origin of maladjustment

First recorded in 1825–35; mal- + adjustment

Example sentences from the Web for maladjustment

British Dictionary definitions for maladjustment

maladjustment
/ (ˌmæləˈdʒʌstmənt) /

noun

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

Medical definitions for maladjustment

maladjustment
[ măl′ə-jŭstmənt ]

n.

Faulty or inadequate adjustment.
Inability to adjust to the demands of interpersonal relationships and the stresses of daily living.

Cultural definitions for maladjustment

maladjustment

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.