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 sensitivity.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Differential sensitivity refers to the idea that individuals may have varying degrees of sensitivity to environmental influences, such as poverty and poor educational opportunities. Jill and Susan's different outcomes can be attributed to their differential sensitivity to these environmental factors.

Friends Jill and Susan Both Experienced Poverty as Children