Friends Jill and Susan both experienced poverty as children. In addition, they were raised by single parents and went to a poor quality school. By the time they were in late adolescence, Jill had dropped out of school and had two children. Susan, in contrast, was academically ranked number one in her graduating class and had a full academic scholarship to Harvard. This example illustrates the concept of differential susceptibility.

Question

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The example provided shows how two individuals with similar background experiences (poverty, single parent household, poor quality school) can have vastly different outcomes in terms of their education and life choices. This is a key aspect of the concept of differential susceptibility, which suggests that individuals may vary in their susceptibility to environmental influences based on their genetic makeup, life experiences, and other individual factors.

Friends Jill and Susan Both Experienced Poverty as Children