In this book, readers will learn about the neuromechanisms that give rise to maladaptive behaviors, that is, actions that are counterproductive, even to the point that they can be detrimental to ourselves and/or to others. The first two chapters of this book define maladaptation and provide an overview of key neuroscience concepts. The rest of the book details maladaptive cognitive-affective and behavioral processes. Specifically, individuals will learn about perceptual disturbances, attentional deficits, memory impairments, maladaptive decision making, movement-related disorders, compulsive behavior, and disturbances related to biological functions (e.g., eating, sleep, and reproduction). Not to be overly pessimistic, the final chapter highlights how we have been able to use neuroscience techniques to treat conditions characterized by maladaptation. 

Dr. Justin R. Yates is a professor and current chair in the Department of Psychological Science at Northern Kentucky University (NKU). He received his PhD in experimental psychology from the University of Kentucky in 2014. At NKU, Dr. Yates has focused on the glutamatergic basis of impulsive and risky decision making, as well as addictive-like behaviors in rats. He has mentored over 60 undergraduate students and one postdoctoral fellow, many of whom have gone on to graduate, professional, and medical school. Dr. Yates has published over three dozen research articles, and he has received over $1 million in external grant funding to support his research. His research has been recognized at the university, the regional, and the national level, including three early career awards from the American Psychological Association.  He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (Division 25) and the Midwestern Psychological Association. 
Dr. Yates has taught courses in biopsychology, learning and behavior, cognitive processes, and research methods. In 2022, Dr. Yates published his first textbook: Determinants of Addiction: Biological, Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sociocultural Determinants after developing a special topics course on the neurobehavioral mechanisms of addiction.