Final answer:
Adaptive culture promotes societal well-being and adaptation to the environment, whereas maladaptive culture leads to unnecessary suffering or ecological harm. Historical examples include the adaptive use of fire and maladaptive rituals like human sacrifices. Cultural reform arises as societies recognize and correct these maladaptations for long-term survival.
Step-by-step explanation:
In terms of culture, adaptive refers to cultural practices and beliefs that enable a society to thrive within its environment, by improving social well-being or dealing effectively with its various challenges. On the other hand, maladaptive cultural attributes are those that result in unnecessary suffering, or ecological damage or are detrimental to a society's long-term survival. Throughout history, there have been examples of both types of cultural traits. For instance, those cultural norms that allowed for the effective use of resources and promoted societal cohesion were adaptive, while practices such as the Mayan human sacrifices or Chinese foot binding were maladaptive, causing significant human suffering without benefiting society in the long run.
Furthermore, as we gain more knowledge, particularly from the sciences, we can recognize certain traditional behaviors as cultural maladaptations and attempt cultural reform. This reform is a process where a society adjusts its cultural practices in response to the understanding that some of them are no longer suitable or harmful. Recognizing maladaptive traditions and initiating change can be crucial for the survival of a culture or even the human species in the modern era.