The diathesis -- stress model is a psychological theory that attempts to explain a disorder as the result of an interaction between a predispositional vulnerability and a stress caused by life experiences. The term diathesis derives from the Greek term (διάθεσις) for a predisposition, or vulnerability. A diathesis can take the form of genetic, psychological, biological, or situational factors. A large range of differences exists among individuals ' vulnerabilities to the development of a disorder.
the vulnerability-stress model of mental illness argues that
a disorder as the result of an interaction between a predispositional vulnerability and a stress caused by life experiences