Travis and Marcus, close friends, grew up in the same neighborhood. Both were exposed to chronic poverty, gang violence, and family dysfunction. By the time they were in high school, Travis was flunking most of his classes, had a child, and had been arrested numerous times for drug-related crimes and theft. Marcus, on the other hand, was a good student, played football, and had aspirations to attend college. These different developmental trajectories, despite similar environmental influences, illustrate the concept of _____
A) "epigenetics."
B) a "critical period."
C) a "sensitive period."
D) "differential susceptibility."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The different developmental trajectories of Travis and Marcus, despite similar environmental influences, illustrate the concept of "differential susceptibility." This concept suggests that individuals may differ in their sensitivity to environmental influences, such as poverty and violence, due to their genetic makeup or prior experiences. Marcus may have been less susceptible to the negative effects of his environment, while Travis may have been more susceptible.

Travis and Marcus, Close Friends, Grew Up in the Same