**How about classifying psychopathology as a maladaptive (dysfunctional) behavior?** Adaptive or maladaptive refer to effectiveness or ineffectiveness to a person's behavior. - If a behavior “works” for the person—if the behavior helps the person deal with challenges, cope with stress, and accomplish his or her goals—then we say the behavior is more or less adaptive. If the behavior does not help in these ways, or if the behavior makes the problem or situation worse, we say it is more or less maladaptive.