In psychology, predisposition is a tendency, inclination or a susceptibility to developing a disorder or disease that can make a person more likely to think, feel or behave in specific ways. That does not mean that it is certain that you will always have the result, but it makes it more likely to occur.
Predispositions can be genetic, meaning they are passed down, or they can be environmental, meaning they originate from the environment, such as upbringing or life experiences. For instance, a person may be genetically susceptible to anxiety but whether it manifests itself depends on stress or life events. Likewise, those tendencies toward optimism or creativity may be influenced by family and culture. Knowledge of predispositions helps to explain inter-individual differences in response to the same situation. It also demonstrates how both biology and environment interact with one another to influence behavior and mental health outcomes.