Question

2. How would one apply the diathesis-stress model to explaining an adolescent developing an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa? Do you think this model is sufficient in explaining the cause of psychopathology in an individual?

Answer 1

Diathesis stress model can be defined as a psychological theory that attempts to explain psychological disorders in relation to their genetic predisposition or vulnerability and the environmental stress.

If the diathesis stress model is applied to an adolescent developing an eating disorder it will lead to explanation of the same in the following way:

• The adolescent developing eating disorder has a genetic predisposition (diathesis) to this disease. This includes family history of either eating disorder in the family or a history of emtnal illness in the family.
• The adolescents eating disorder and genetic predisposition to the disease was further triggered by various environmental stressor. These can include cultural standards of beauty, body shaming/bullying by peers due to his/her body structure, unrealistic standards of beauty ideals by the adolescent.
• All these factors together leads to stress in the individual triggering the already genetic predisposition to the disorder thus leading to its development in the person.

Yes, this model is sufficient in explaining the cause of psychopathology in an individual. This is so because it includes both the genetic predisposition to the disease as well as environmental stressor. Thus it covers not only the biological or 'nature' factors for the cause of disease but also 'nurture'. It has a broad scope of application thus including most of the theories that try to define the cause of disorder such as cultural relativism, cognitive theories, social learning theories and biological theories.