Final answer:
Cultural adaptation leads to changes that benefit the survival and wellbeing of a society within its environment, such as the use of fire for warmth or adoption of farming. When cultural practices cause harm or distress, such as Mayan human sacrifices or foot binding in China, it is known as cultural maladaptation. Cultural maladaptations can pose threats to human civilization, necessitating cultural reform for the betterment of society and the environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cultural adaptation refers to changes in a culture that result in the members of that culture becoming better suited to their environment. An example is the use of fire for cooking and warmth, or the adoption of farming practices. Cultural maladaptation, on the other hand, occurs when cultural beliefs or practices result in harm to individuals, society, or the environment. This can include behaviors that cause unnecessary human suffering, ecological damage, and potentially threaten the survival of human civilization.
Examples of cultural maladaptation include the Mayan practice of human sacrifice, Chinese foot binding, religious genocide, and unsustainable economic practices that ignore ecological realities. Culture becomes adaptive when it fosters behaviors and norms that enhance the survival and well-being of a community within its environment. Conversely, culture is maladaptive when it propagates actions or ideologies that contribute to distress, destruction, or are contrary to the sustainable continuation of society and nature.
Given the gravity of some cultural maladaptations, cultural reform is necessary to rectify these harmful practices. This involves the replacement of damaging norms with those that are more harmonious with both human welfare and ecological sustainability.