Your cousin has always had a tendency towards anxiety. He's been feeling particularly stressed out in recent months and decides to see a doctor for some advice. After describing his symptoms, the doctor tells your cousin that he may be suffering from an anxiety disorder and would like to refer him to someone with more expertise in that area. Your cousin asks the doctor if his symptoms were caused by his genes. The doctor explains that genetic contributions are thought to be one of many kinds of vulnerabilities that may predispose individuals to developing a psychological disorder. However, whether someone ever actually develops a disorder is likely related to whether a sufficient amount of stress is experienced, which can act as a trigger. What model is he describing?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The vulnerability-stress model (also known as the diathesis-stress model) suggests that a disorder develops due to a combination of genetic vulnerabilities (or predispositions) and stressful life events or environments. This model is being described by the doctor when explaining how genetic factors and stress can interact to potentially lead to an anxiety disorder.

Your Cousin Has Always Had a Tendency Towards Anxiety