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Perspectives of Abnormal Behaviour> Diathesis-Stress Perspective

Estimated time: 13 minutes

CISCE: Class 12

Basic Idea and Main Factors

The diathesis–stress model explains mental disorders as the result of vulnerability plus stress.
A person may have a predisposition, but a disorder appears only when strong stressors act.
Predisposition (diathesis) means vulnerability due to genes, early trauma, faulty parenting, or certain personality traits.
Stressors are stressful events or conditions like poverty, conflict, failures, accidents, disasters, and violence.

CISCE: Class 12

The environment decides whether vulnerability will turn into a mental disorder.
A supportive and positive environment may prevent the vulnerability from becoming a disorder.
A negative environment with frequent and intense stressors may trigger vulnerability and cause illness.
A vulnerable person may look normal until strong or repeated stress is added.
People react differently to the same stressful situation because their levels of vulnerability are different.

CISCE: Class 12

Only some people have a strong vulnerability to develop Post‑Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
These people may develop PTSD after trauma such as war, serious accidents, disasters, or violence.
Others, with less vulnerability, may not develop PTSD even after similar experiences.

CISCE: Class 12

Biological, psychodynamic, behavioural, socio‑cultural, and diathesis–stress models are complementary.
They are not competing; each explains different aspects of abnormal behaviour.
Modern psychologists prefer an integrated or biopsychosocial model that combines all these perspectives together.

CISCE: Class 12

The Diathesis-Stress model explains that mental disorders develop due to both predisposition and stress.
Predisposition (diathesis) includes genetic factors, early trauma, personality traits, and childhood experiences.
Stressors are negative or stressful environmental conditions that trigger the disorder.
If the environment is supportive, the disorder may not develop even if a person is vulnerable.
Continuous or severe stress can activate vulnerability and lead to mental disorder.