CARE OF CLIENTS WITH

M A L A D A P T I V E PAT T E R N S
O F B E H AV I O R

Willy C. Sarmiento
 • Many define maladaptive behavior as
W H AT I S behavior that hinders or hurts a person
MALADAPTI
from reaching full potential.
VE
• Affects the person and the people that
B E H AV I O R ?
person interacts with.
 • Behavior that is:
– Unusual
– Unacceptable
MALADAPTI – Causes personal distress
VE • All subjective and differ over time and
B E H AV I O R cultures.
• What’s unusual for one place/time may
not be in another.
• Our culture defines and limits ‘normal’
behavior. And those definitions change.
 • Can also be objective, such as:
MALADAPTI
– Faulty perception of reality
VE
B E H AV I O R – Self-defeating behavior
– Dangerous behavior
 • We all have some degree of maladaptive
MALADAPTI
behavior.
VE
B E H AV I O R • On some days we have more than on
others.
 • What it boils down to is this: We often
evaluate the world with the thought that
anything we do is normal. If something
W H AT I S
NORMAL? varies from our own ‘normal, we are
likely to see it is as odd, unhealthy, or
unacceptable. We think: I’m OK, You’re
not”.
 • Some people say that mental healthrequires:

– Harmony with ones self

M E N TA L – Harmony with the environment
H E A LT H
– Conformity to cultural requirements
– Conformity to community
–Intact reasoning and judgment–No medical
‘deviation’
 • Changes over time

• Reflects changes in cultural norms

DEFINITION
• Reflects society’s expectations & values
OF
• Influenced by professional biases
“NORMAL”
M E N TA L • Involves individual differences
H E A LT H • Influenced by the political climate of the
time

• All Kinds of Minds

THANK
YOU!