key term - Environment Factors

Definition

Environmental factors refer to external influences that can affect an individual's development or the manifestation of a psychological disorder. These factors can include physical, social, cultural, or familial aspects of an individual's surroundings.

Related terms

Diathesis-Stress Model: This model suggests that individuals inherit a genetic predisposition (diathesis) for a disorder but require exposure to specific stressors in their environment for the disorder to manifest.

Biopsychosocial Model: This model considers biological factors (genetics), psychological factors (thoughts, emotions), and social factors (environmental context) as all playing a role in the development of psychological disorders.

Epigenetics:

Epigenetics explores how environmental influences can cause changes in gene expression without altering DNA sequences, potentially impacting an individual's susceptibility to certain disorders.