Question:
Diathesis Stress Theory: Information Required ?
Answer:
Basically, this model purports that mental illness is the result of two factos
interacting; ones genetics/biology and one's life expoerience (i.e. stress,
coping skills, social support). Lets take an illness such as schizophrenia for
example. Person "A" might have been born with a strong biological
predisposition to have schizophrenia (ie.e due to his genetic make up).
According to this model, it would not take a very large amount of stress in
this persons's life to develop schizophrenia. Perhaps if the person is exposed
to a traumatic event (i.e. death of a loved one) that stress will lead to a
schizophrenic break. Person "B" is born with a low biological predisposition to
develop schizophrenia. She will have to be exposed to tremendous stress to
develop schizophrenia, and according to the model would remain healthy if
exposed to moderate levels of stress.
