Scientific Definition
A problem whose solution requires people to change their values, beliefs, or habits — not just apply expertise.
Plain-English Definition
A problem whose solution requires people to change their values, beliefs, or habits — not just apply expertise.
Feynman Explanation
Technical challenges have answers. Adaptive challenges have grief.
Core Principle
A problem whose solution requires people to change their values, beliefs, or habits — not just apply expertise.
Mechanisms
Pending editorial review.
A problem whose solution requires people to change their values, beliefs, or habits — not just apply expertise.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Most 'transformation' programs fail because they apply technical fixes to adaptive problems.
Inputs (Triggers)
Pending editorial review.
Outputs (Behaviors)
Pending editorial review.
Behavioral Signature
Technical challenges have answers. Adaptive challenges have grief.
Examples
- Ron Heifetz's Adaptive Leadership work at Harvard Kennedy School.
- Most 'transformation' programs fail because they apply technical fixes to adaptive problems.
Pending editorial review.
Famous Experiments
Pending editorial review.
Design Principles
- Diagnose: technical, adaptive, or mixed? Then assign the right kind of work to the right level.
Measurement Approaches
Pending editorial review.
Evidence
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
The Perverse Incentive Lens™
How this behavior is exploited — and how to redesign around it.
- Diagnose: technical, adaptive, or mixed? Then assign the right kind of work to the right level.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Interactive Mini Network
Click any neighbor to re-center the graph and follow the threads of connection.
Knowledge Graph Neighbors
Auto-linked to the rest of the Human Behavior Taxonomy by family, domain, dimension, and shared keywords.
Basics first (health/finances), then depth (mastery/impact), then altruism (widening circle).
Holding a different — and correct — set of tools than everyone else.
Someone who incites others to take illegal or rash action, often to expose or discredit them.
Sun Tzu's ancient treatise on strategy, deception, and positioning.
Conflict between belligerents with very different resources and tactics.
Start from the desired future and work backward to the steps that make it inevitable.
Winning the disputed population, not just defeating the visible opponent.
Countering hostile narratives with truthful, well-timed alternatives.
Sort situations into Clear, Complicated, Complex, Chaotic, or Confused — each needs a different response.
Eroding the will to act, even when capacity remains.
Munger's principle: the surest way to get something is to deserve it.
An act committed to look like it was done by someone else.