In the Diathesis-Stress Model, disorders are understood to result from predisposed biological factors that are triggered by what?

• A. Genetic predisposition alone
• B. Random neurological changes
• C. Internal coping mechanisms
• D. The environment or stressors

Answer: (D)

The idea tested here is that a disorder arises when a biological or genetic vulnerability (a diathesis) is activated by stress from the environment. The vulnerability provides the predisposition, but it’s the environmental stressors that push a person over a threshold where symptoms appear. This explains why someone with a genetic or biological susceptibility may remain symptom-free until faced with significant life stress, such as loss, conflict, or chronic pressure, at which point a disorder can emerge. Coping resources and protective factors can influence whether the stress leads to illness, but they’re not the triggering cause themselves.