The concept of adaptive regression is useful because it emphasizes that regression can be adaptive, but is misleading in suggesting that adaptive regressions are a discrete and unitary set of phenomena. Recently, writers have stated that primary process and creativity are not regressive, but these ideas imply an implausibly sharp break between regressive and adaptive phenomena, and are contradicted by empirical observations. Regression may be adaptive in a variety of ways: It may be chosen and used for communication or for privately adaptive ends, or it may occur unbidden, but nevertheless, be used for communication or privately adaptive ends. A more meaningful question than “Is regression adaptive or maladaptive,” is “How is regression adaptive, maladaptive, or both?”