maladjustment
maladjustment — noun
1. a condition in which a person has difficulty meeting the ordinary expectations a
a condition in which a person has difficulty meeting the ordinary expectations and routines of daily life, often leading to emotional distress or problems in social situations
After switching schools three times in two years, Bao showed clear signs of maladjustment.
signs of maladjustment — common collocation with 'show signs of'
The school counsellor noticed Caleb's maladjustment when he began arriving late and avoiding his classmates.
Marta fit in at her new job, but her brother's maladjustment at university worried the family.
Ilan's maladjustment in social groups at school stemmed from years of harsh criticism at home.
- maladaptation
more common in biology and evolutionary psychology; maladjustment is preferred in social and clinical psychology
- dysfunction
broader term covering any impaired functioning, not specifically tied to social or environmental adaptation
- inability to cope
more colloquial phrase that describes the symptom rather than the clinical condition
- adjustment
the normal state of being able to meet life's demands and fit into social environments
- adaptation
the positive process of becoming suited to a new environment or situation
文法句型
maladjustment + to + noun phrase
signs of maladjustment
用法筆記
Typically used in psychology and education to describe long-term patterns of difficulty, not temporary or mild discomfort in a new situation.