Adaptive Behaviors

Adaptive behaviors can describe two different concepts. In evolutionary psychology it can describe actions or behaviors that aid or ensure an organism's basic survival and likelihood of reproduction.

Examples are survival instincts, mate selection, aggression towards threats, and helping genetically related organisms (family) over non-related organisms (ensuring genes will pass on). Adaptive behavior can also describe actions, skills, and behaviors that humans develop and use in order to perform basic skills, be able to cope with novel situations. Social, conceptual (time, money, numbers), and practical skills are considered adaptive behaviors. The Diagnostic Adaptive Behaviors Scale (DABS) measures adaptive behavior proficiency in these areas.