Final answer:
The statement is false because both environmental and genetic factors significantly contribute to the development of schizophrenia. For instance, adoptees with a high genetic risk are more likely to develop schizophrenia if raised in a disturbed environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the presence of environmental risk factors is neither necessary nor sufficient to lead to the emergence of schizophrenia is false. Research, such as that by Tienari et al., 2004, supports the diathesis-stress interpretation of schizophrenia, suggesting that both genetic and environmental factors, including disturbed home environments, contribute to the development of this disorder. Among adoptees, those with a high genetic risk were more likely to develop schizophrenia if they were raised in a disturbed family environment. These findings indicate that environmental factors can indeed play a significant role in shaping the potential onset of schizophrenia. Further, the same study also demonstrated that a high genetic risk alone does not necessarily lead to the disorder's manifestation. Adoptees with a biological mother with schizophrenia but raised in a healthy environment were much less likely to develop the disorder. Thus, while the presence of environmental risk factors is not the sole determinant, it is a contributing factor in the emergence of schizophrenia, especially in conjunction with genetic predisposition.
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