Which term asks what causes a disorder, incorporating biological, psychological, and social dimensions?

Which term asks what causes a disorder, incorporating biological, psychological, and social dimensions?

• A. Etiology
• B. Equifinality
• C. Comorbidity
• D. Causal models

Answer: (A)

Etiology is the study of what causes a disorder. It asks why a condition develops, and in doing so it brings in multiple levels—biological factors like genetics or brain chemistry, psychological factors such as thoughts and coping styles, and social factors like family dynamics and environment. This biopsychosocial view helps explain how these pieces can interact to produce a disorder, not just what symptoms appear. Equifinality, by contrast, refers to many different paths leading to the same outcome, which is about developmental routes rather than specific causes. Comorbidity is the presence of two or more disorders at the same time. Causal models are frameworks for illustrating how factors influence one another, but they’re tools for depicting relationships rather than naming the question of what causes the disorder.

Etiology is the study of what causes a disorder. It asks why a condition develops, and in doing so it brings in multiple levels—biological factors like genetics or brain chemistry, psychological factors such as thoughts and coping styles, and social factors like family dynamics and environment. This biopsychosocial view helps explain how these pieces can interact to produce a disorder, not just what symptoms appear.

Equifinality, by contrast, refers to many different paths leading to the same outcome, which is about developmental routes rather than specific causes. Comorbidity is the presence of two or more disorders at the same time. Causal models are frameworks for illustrating how factors influence one another, but they’re tools for depicting relationships rather than naming the question of what causes the disorder.