Final answer:
Maladaptive customs tend to disappear because they often result in negative consequences that can lead to societal or ecological damage, as well as human suffering. Cultural reform influenced by scientific knowledge and shifts in societal values can lead to the abandonment of such customs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Significantly maladaptive customs are likely to disappear from a society because they can lead to negative consequences, such as unnecessary human suffering, ecological damage, or the collapse of a civilisation. As seen in the case of the Mayan civilisation, maladaptive practices like human sacrifice did not contribute to their prosperity and could have played a part in their society's sudden end.
Furthermore, as societies gain new knowledge, especially from the sciences, there is an increased awareness of the drawbacks of certain customs. This knowledge can fuel cultural reform where maladaptive practices are reconsidered and potentially abandoned for being harmful or unsustainable. The practice of foot binding in China is another example where after many generations, the practice ended as societal values shifted.
Current societal challenges include the maladaptive assumption of prioritising economic growth over ecological well-being. It is possible that with greater recognition of the potential for ecological disaster, societal values may shift towards sustainable practices. However, this would require a genuine understanding of the negative consequences of resource-heavy activities, rather than these changes being externally imposed.