15 Adaptive Behavior Examples

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What are adaptive behavior examples, what is the definition of adaptive behavior according to the American Association on Intellectual and Development Disabilities, and what three types of adaptive behavior are there?

When a learner has not acquired the necessary skills as he or she should, there will be several questions regarding adaptive behavior. If a learner is not catching up with his or her peers, several questions arise. 

It’s defined as the collection of concepts, social, and practical skills learned by people to operate in their community.

Adaptive Behavior Examples

Definition of Adaptive Behavior Examples

According to the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), adaptive behavior is the collection of conceptual, social, and practical skills that individuals need to function in their daily lives.

It’s a construct that includes skills that an individual needs to meet the standards for personal needs as well as being able to handle the social and natural demands required in their environment.

When a learner has not acquired the necessary skills as he or she should, there will be several questions regarding adaptive behavior. If a learner is not catching up with his or her peers, several questions arise.

As one matures over time, these behaviors can change totally. These behaviors can also change within a given time with instruction and support.

Adaptive behavior can be separated into three types such as conceptual, social, and practical skills. All of these behaviors enable people to navigate their everyday lives as adults.

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Let’s look closely at these three types of adaptive behavior.

  • Conceptual Skills: conceptual skills are set skills that help individuals take care of important life functions and adapt to their environment. An example is learning how to read as a learner, understand how time operates and its value, as well as knowing how to count orderly.
  • Social Skills: social skills are interpersonal skills that enable you to communicate with your peers and everyone. It’s a skill you acquire in order to function and communicate with others in your surroundings. These are abilities that guide you to follow social norms (knowing what is right and wrong), obey rules, and engage in social problem-solving.
  • Practical Skills: practical skills are skills that involve the ability to independently perform your daily activities. It’s a skill that involves personal care. It defines our ability to use money, telephones, as well as travel from one destination to the other. It’s a personal skill that enables us to have occupational skills.

Adaptive behavior is a set of skills we learn and perform throughout our lives in order to meet the expectations of the society we live in.

Adaptive Behavior Examples

We will be looking at a few adaptive behavior examples.

#1. Tying Shoes

Tying Shoes (practical skills)- a student in a K2 classroom can comfortably put on his shoe and coat all by himself.

Research study

However, recent findings have left some parents wondering about their children’s skills for tying their shoelaces.

According to a recent study, kids born in this 21st century are good at using gadgets like iPads and video game consoles. Their shoe lace tying skills is not that great compared to their skills using Hi-Tech gadgets.

Only a few kids born in the 21st century master the art of tying their shoelaces before the age of six. Others don’t master this skill until they are nine or ten years old.

Compared to the average kid in the last three decades, learning how to tie a shoe lace was done by four-year olds.

#2. Counting

Counting (conceptual skill)- counting from one to twenty is what most kids in first grade can do comfortably and orderly. At this level, they understand what “greater than” and “less than” mean.

Research study

A research study by ResearchGate was carried out to observe a first-grader performance in math.

Interviews and observations were conducted as a study to find out the student’s level of readiness for math lessons. They observed that familial and educational reasons for the student to have challenges in learning math subjects.

The student was lagging in terms of adaptation to school, social development, and literacy compared to his peers. An action plan was set up to help the student obtain first-term gains.

The study shows that the student succeeded in activities like meaningful counting, rhythmic counting, subtraction, addition, quantity comparison, and one-to-one correspondence.

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#3. Organization

Organization (conceptual skills)- a high school student is well organized with his or her school materials. They keep their backpacks and lockers clean and arrange their books and other academic materials where they can be found easily.

#4. Conflict Resolution

Conflict Resolution (social skills)- being in a leadership position means that the team member in a workplace setting is capable of handling and resolving conflicts. It also implies that the team member has a good communication skill to connect with co-workers.

#5. Asking for Help

Asking for Help (social skill)- children ask for help every now and then. A child who is unable to get a book on a high shelf will ask the teacher for help.

#6. Street Smart

Street Smart (practical skill)- when a student becomes independent, he or she understands when it’s safe to cross the street.

#7. Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking (conceptual skill)- these are skills possessed by an adult with logical reasoning. Critical thinking involves being able to review various options and make decisions based on evidence and logical reasoning.

#8. Shopping

Shopping (practical skill)- teenagers on their own can walk into a local mart and purchase small items. They know how to do this without the supervision of an adult or a parent.

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#9. Asking for Permission

Asking for Permission (social skill)- this set of skills involves demonstrating a social norm. A student asks another student if he can borrow a textbook rather than taking it without their permission.

#10. Problem Solving

Problem-Solving (conceptual skill)- at the tertiary level, a college student can identify the causes of a complex problem. The student can find practical solutions to solve that complex problem.

#11. Teamwork

Teamwork (social skill)- playing a team sport requires communication and teamwork. An athlete who is a member of a sports team can communicate and collaborate with his teammates to help the team win in any competition.

#12. Managing Finance

Managing Finance (practical skill)- a high school student decides to start a lawn mowing business. The business is going just fine and the student can keep track of the amount of money he is making monthly.

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#13. Research

Research (conceptual skill)- a master’s student is able to collect and gather information from different reliable sources and synthesize the information to develop a comprehensive thesis.

#14. Driving

Driving (practical skill)- a high school student learns how to drive a vehicle and navigate different road conditions and also understands traffic rules and regulations while driving.

#15. Time Management

Time Management (conceptual skill)- anyone besides children understands the concept of time and what it means to be “late” or “on time”. Keeping to appointments with people by arriving at the appropriate times is very important.

Conclusion

According to the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), adaptive behavior is the collection of conceptual, social, and practical skills that individuals need to function in their daily lives.

It’s a construct that includes skills that an individual needs to meet the standards for personal needs as well as being able to handle the social and natural demands required in their environment.

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