The diathesis-stress model, also called the vulnerability-stress model, is a psychological theory that explains a disorder, or its course, as the product of an interaction between a predispositional vulnerability, the diathesis, and stress arising from a person's life experiences. A diathesis can take a genetic, psychological, biological or situational form, and individuals vary widely in how vulnerable they are to developing a disorder from any given diathesis. The model works by examining how a diathesis interacts with a person's subsequent stress response, since stress is understood here as a life event or series of events that disrupts psychological equilibrium and can help trigger a disorder such as depression.
Facts
Core ClaimA disorder results from an interaction between a predispositional vulnerability (the diathesis) and stress caused by life experiences. 1 Connections
Associated With
The diathesis-stress model's account of an underlying vulnerability activated by environmental stressors is the direct conceptual ancestor of gene-environment interaction research in behavioral genetics, which reframes the same interaction in molecular terms.
Sources
1. Diathesis-stress model, Wikipedia
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a psychological theory that attempts to explain a disorder, or its trajectory, as the result of an interaction between a predispositional vulnerability, the diathesis, and stress caused by life experiences.
2. Wikipedia: Paul Meehl
Body text, APA presidencyQuote, Body text, APA presidency
Meehl was elected president of the American Psychological Association in 1962.
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