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🥸intro to psychology review

Differential Susceptibility Hypothesis

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

The differential susceptibility hypothesis proposes that individuals have varying degrees of susceptibility to both positive and negative environmental influences. It suggests that some people are more sensitive to both beneficial and detrimental experiences, while others are less affected by environmental factors.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. The differential susceptibility hypothesis challenges the traditional view of environmental influences as either uniformly beneficial or harmful, proposing that individuals have varying degrees of responsiveness to both positive and negative experiences.
  2. This hypothesis suggests that highly susceptible individuals may exhibit better outcomes in supportive environments but worse outcomes in adverse environments, compared to less susceptible individuals.
  3. The differential susceptibility hypothesis has implications for understanding individual differences in the development of psychological and behavioral outcomes, as well as the design and implementation of interventions.
  4. Researchers have investigated the role of genetic, neurobiological, and temperamental factors in contributing to an individual's susceptibility to environmental influences.
  5. The differential susceptibility hypothesis has been applied to various domains, including child development, psychopathology, and the study of gene-environment interactions.

Review Questions

  • Explain how the differential susceptibility hypothesis differs from the traditional diathesis-stress model.
    • Unlike the diathesis-stress model, which focuses on the interaction between an individual's innate vulnerability and negative environmental factors, the differential susceptibility hypothesis proposes that individuals have varying degrees of responsiveness to both positive and negative environmental influences. The differential susceptibility hypothesis suggests that some people are more sensitive to both beneficial and detrimental experiences, while others are less affected by environmental factors.
  • Describe the potential implications of the differential susceptibility hypothesis for the design and implementation of interventions.
    • The differential susceptibility hypothesis has important implications for the design and implementation of interventions. If individuals have varying degrees of susceptibility to environmental influences, interventions may need to be tailored to the specific needs and characteristics of the target population. Highly susceptible individuals may benefit more from supportive and enriching environments, while less susceptible individuals may require more intensive or targeted interventions to achieve similar outcomes. Understanding individual differences in susceptibility can help researchers and practitioners develop more effective and personalized interventions.
  • Analyze how the differential susceptibility hypothesis has been applied to the study of gene-environment interactions and their impact on psychological and behavioral outcomes.
    • The differential susceptibility hypothesis has been instrumental in advancing the understanding of gene-environment interactions. Researchers have investigated how genetic and neurobiological factors contribute to an individual's susceptibility to environmental influences, and how this interplay affects the development of psychological and behavioral outcomes. By considering the differential susceptibility of individuals, researchers can better elucidate the complex mechanisms underlying the interaction between genetic predispositions and environmental experiences. This knowledge can inform our understanding of individual differences in the etiology and course of various psychological and behavioral phenomena, and guide the development of more targeted and effective interventions.