Cited by 645Personality Traits and PsychologyNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorEvolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior

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Sensory Processing Sensitivity: A Review in the Light of the Evolution of Biological Responsivity

Aron, Elaine N., Aron, Arthur, Jagiellowicz, Jadzia·2012·Personality and Social Psychology Review

DOI 10.1177/1088868311434213

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Abstract

This article reviews the literature on sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) in light of growing evidence from evolutionary biology that many personality differences in nonhuman species involve being more or less responsive, reactive, flexible, or sensitive to the environment. After briefly defining SPS, it first discusses how biologists studying animal personality have conceptualized this general environmental sensitivity. Second, it reviews relevant previous human personality/temperament work, focusing on crossover interactions (where a trait generates positive or negative outcomes depending on the environment), and traits relevant to specific hypothesized aspects of SPS: inhibition of behavior, sensitivity to stimuli, depth of processing, and emotional/physiological reactivity. Third, it reviews support for the overall SPS model, focusing on development of the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) Scale as a measure of SPS then on neuroimaging and genetic studies using the scale, all of which bears on the extent to which SPS in humans corresponds to biological responsivity.

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“(Aron et al., 2012).”
Background
The temperament trait of environmental sensitivity is associated with connectedness to nature and affinity to animals
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“Email: chiaravanreyn@outlook.com (Aron et al., 2012; Greven et al., 2019; Homberg et al., 2016).”
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Background
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MethodInfluential
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“org 10 November 2021 | Volume 12 | Article 751679 to be the result of cognitive reactivity. In the concept of cognitive reactivity, attention shifts from external stressors to internal negative thoughts, beliefs, or prejudices. This indicates that distress can occur even without exposure to strong negative environment…”
BackgroundInfluential
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Background
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Background
Sensory processing sensitivity as a predictor of health-related quality of life outcomes via stress and sleep quality
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“Finally, individuals high in SPS may exhibit elevated Aesthetic Sensitivity, reporting increased awareness of sensory stimuli (e.g., visual, taste, sound) 6 or requiring additional time to process such stimuli in novel environments before acclimating 13 .”
Influential
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“Individuals with high SPS scores are more shaken than others by changes in their life (Aron et al., 2012).”
BackgroundMethodInfluential
Rumination mediates the relationship between structural variations in ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and sensitivity to negative life events
Qiao, L., Wei, D., Li, W. F., Chen, Q., Che, X., Li, B., Li, Y., Qiu, J., Zhang, Q. L., & Liu, Y. J. (2013) · Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.09.053 · Cited by 24
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“Other studies have suggested that sensory sensitivity may be a characteristic of individual differences in healthy populations (48-50), and a premorbid risk factor (identified using QST) in people who later developed musculoskeletal CS pain (51-54).”
Background
The relationship between sensory processing sensitivity and psychological distress: A model of underpinning mechanisms and an analysis of therapeutic possibilities
Wyller, H. B., Wyller, V. B., Crane, C., & Gjelsvik, B. (2017) · Scandinavian Psychologist · doi:10.15714/scandpsychol.4.e15 · Cited by 26
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“These individual differences that are genetic and innate are expressed as sensory processing sensitivity (Aron et al., 2012).”
Background
Sensory processing sensitivity behavior moderates the association between environmental harshness, unpredictability, and child socioemotional functioning
Li, Z., Sturge-Apple, M. L., Jones-Gordils, H. R., & Davies, P. T. (2022) · Development and Psychopathology · doi:10.1017/s0954579421001188 · Cited by 23
“In addition, although Aron et al. (2012) proposes a crossover interaction, empirical studies have yielded inconsistent findings, supporting diathesis-stress (e.g., Booth et al., 2015) or differential susceptibility (e.g., Lionetti et al., 2019; Slagt et al., 2018).”
BackgroundMethodResultInfluential
Alexithymia and sensory processing sensitivity account for unique variance in the prediction of emotional contagion and empathy
McQuarrie, A. M., Smith, S. D., & Jakobson, L. S. (2023) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1072783 · Cited by 23
“Mediation via SPS may occur because those scoring high on this trait are particularly sensitive to adverse developmental environments (Aron and Aron, 1997; Liss et al., 2008; Aron et al., 2012).”
Background
The Interactive Effects of Parental Knowledge with Impulsivity and Sensation Seeking in Adolescent Substance Use
Rioux, C., Ryan, N. C., Parent, S., Vitaro, F., & Séguin, J. R. (2018) · Child Psychiatry & Human Development · doi:10.1007/s10578-018-0825-5 · Cited by 26
Substance Use: Links with Sensory Sensitivity, Attachment Insecurity, and Distress in Young Adults
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“However, SPS may also be an adaptive trait in supportive contexts, and highly sensitive individuals may exhibit better functional outcomes compared to less sensitive individuals (Aron et al., 2012).”
Background
Regional Homogeneity of Resting-State Brain Activity Suppresses the Effect of Dopamine-Related Genes on Sensory Processing Sensitivity
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“[7], unlike other individual personality traits, sensitivity is a “meta-personality” trait observed in more than 100 species and is of vital importance to their survival.”
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How do Highly Sensitive Persons Parent their Adolescent Children? The Role of Sensory Processing Sensitivity in Parenting Practices
Goldberg, A., & Scharf, M. (2020) · Journal of Social and Personal Relationships · doi:10.1177/0265407520911101 · Cited by 21
“These processing differences are genetically based, present at birth, and located in the central nervous system (Aron & Aron, 1997), and polymorphisms both in the serotonin and in the dopamine systems have been implicated in them (Chen et al., 2011; Homberg et al., 2016).”
Background
Localizing sensory processing sensitivity and its subdomains within its relevant trait space: a data-driven approach
Attary, T., & Ghazizadeh, A. (2021) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-021-99686-y · Cited by 21
Family context in association with the development of child sensory processing sensitivity.
Li, Z., Sturge‐Apple, M. L., & Davies, P. T. (2021) · Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1037/dev0001256 · Cited by 28
Sensory Processing Sensitivity Questionnaire: A Psychometric Evaluation and Associations with Experiencing the COVID-19 Pandemic
Maliňáková, K., Novák, L., Trnka, R., & Tavel, P. (2021) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph182412962 · Cited by 21
Processing of different types of social threat in shyness: Preliminary findings of distinct functional neural connectivity
Tang, A., Beaton, E. A., Tatham, E. L., Schulkin, J. A., Hall, G. B., & Schmidt, L. A. (2015) · Social Neuroscience · doi:10.1080/17470919.2015.1030036 · Cited by 21
Dissociative tendencies, sensory processing sensitivity and aberrant salience as predictors of anomalous experiences and paranormal attributions.
Irwin, H. J., Schofield, M. B., & Baker, I. S. (2014) · University of Derby Online Research Archive. (University of Derby) · Cited by 21
Increased cocaine self‐administration in rats lacking the serotonin transporter: a role for glutamatergic signaling in the habenula
Caffino, L., Verheij, M. M. M., Que, L., Guo, C. C.-G., Homberg, J. R., & Fumagalli, F. (2018) · Addiction Biology · doi:10.1111/adb.12673 · Cited by 21
“The role of SERT in © 2018 Society for the Study of Addiction Addiction Biology, 24, 1167–1178 environmental sensitivity in general (Homberg & Lesch 2011) appears to be critical for the trait ‘sensory processing sensitivity’ (SPS) (Aron et al. 2012; Homberg et al. 2016; Lionetti et al. 2018).”
Background
Genetics of environmental sensitivity and its association with variations in emotional problems, autistic traits, and wellbeing
Assary, E., Oginni, O. A., Morneau‐Vaillancourt, G., Krebs, G., Peel, A. J., Palaiologou, E., Lockhart, C. L., Ronald, A., & Eley, T. C. (2024) · Molecular Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/s41380-024-02508-6 · Cited by 20
“But, they broadly conceptualise environmental sensitivity as a stable personality type (highly sensitive personality), marked by generally greater reactivity to emotional, psychological, and sensory stimuli, greater attention to aesthetics and details, and over-stimulation [6, 12].”
Neonatal hippocampal volume moderates the effects of early postnatal enrichment on cognitive development
Overfeld, J., Entringer, S., Rasmussen, J. M., Heim, C. C., Styner, M. A., Gilmore, J. H., Wadhwa, P. D., & Buß, C. (2020) · Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.dcn.2020.100820 · Cited by 20
The Role of Attachment Insecurity and Big Five Traits on Sensory Processing Sensitivity
Şengül‐İnal, G., Kırımer‐Aydınlı, F., & Sümer, N. (2018) · The Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1080/00223980.2018.1482255 · Cited by 19
Perceived Loudness Sensitivity Influenced by Brightness in Urban Forests: A Comparison When Eyes Were Opened and Closed
Hong, X. C., Wang, G., Liu, J., & Dang, E. (2020) · Forests · doi:10.3390/f11121242 · Cited by 19
“Individuals are sensitive to the environment, which modulates their behavioral visual sensitivity and neural responses with visual stimuli of different intensity [36,37].”
Background
Sensory Processing Sensitivity: Associations with the detection of real degraded stimuli, and reporting of illusory stimuli and paranormal experiences
Williams, J. M., Carr, M., & Blagrove, M. (2021) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2021.110807 · Cited by 19
Sweet and Sensitive: Sensory Processing Sensitivity and Type 1 Diabetes
Goldberg, A., Ebraheem, Z., Freiberg, C., Ferarro, R., Chai, S., & Dally-Gottfried, O. (2017) · Journal of Pediatric Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2017.10.015 · Cited by 21
“situations due to their predisposition to wariness (Aron et al., 2010; Aron et al., 2012; Aron & Aron, 1997).”
BackgroundInfluential
Trait anxiety and sensory processing profile characteristics in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain and central sensitisation - A pilot observational study
Clark, J. R., Yeowell, G., & Goodwin, P. C. (2017) · Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies · doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2017.11.007 · Cited by 19
“…tactile receptors, muscle spindles and golgi tendon organs, mechanoreceptors, the vestibular apparatus, the auditory, olfactory, gustatory and visual systems (Davies et al., 2009) and cerebral efferent connections including connections from emotional and psychological networks (Aron et al., 2012).”
Background
Sensory Processing Sensitivity and the Subjective Experience of Parenting: An Exploratory Study
Aron, E. N., Aron, A. P., Nardone, N., & Zhou, S. (2019) · Family Relations · doi:10.1111/fare.12370 · Cited by 19
Self-citation
Lifestyle Factors and Subjective Cognitive Impairment in Patients Seeking Help at a Memory Disorder Clinic: The Role of Negative Life Events
Andersson, C., Marklund, K., Walles, H., Hagman, G., & Miley-Åkerstedt, A. (2019) · Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders · doi:10.1159/000505573 · Cited by 19
Do highly sensitive persons display hypersensitive narcissism? Similarities and differences in the nomological networks of sensory processing sensitivity and vulnerable narcissism
Jauk, E., Knödler, M., Frenzel, J., & Kanske, P. (2022) · Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1002/jclp.23406 · Cited by 26
“The authors argued that SPS can yield evolutionary advantages in terms of a higher responsiveness to environmental stimuli (Aron et al., 2012).”
Background
Arousal and the modulation of sensory experience: evidence from food-related emotions
Prescott, J., & Spinelli, S. (2024) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rstb.2023.0255 · Cited by 22
“Those high in this trait are said to be wary of novel situations, to be more sensitive and responsive to subtle sensory stimuli, and to engage in deeper cognitive processing of sensory information [90].”
Exploring sensory processing sensitivity: relationships with mental and somatic health, interactions with positive and negative environments, and evidence for differential susceptibility
Damatac, C., ter Avest, M. J., Wilderjans, T., Gucht, V. D., Woestenburg, D. H. A., Landeweerd, L., Galesloot, T., Geerligs, L., Homberg, J., & Greven, C. (2024) · Current Research in Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.crbeha.2024.100165 · Cited by 19
Personality Profile of the Self-Identified Highly Sensitive Person
Bröhl, A. S., Leeuwen, K. G. V., Pluess, M., Fruyt, F. D., Hoof, E. V., Weyn, S., & Bijttebier, P. (2021) · Journal of Individual Differences · doi:10.1027/1614-0001/a000363 · Cited by 18
Sensory processing sensitivity and axonal microarchitecture: identifying brain structural characteristics for behavior
Dávid, S., Brown, L. L., Heemskerk, A. M., Aron, E. N., Leemans, A., & Aron, A. P. (2022) · Brain Structure and Function · doi:10.1007/s00429-022-02571-1 · Cited by 24
“This area was also activated in the (Acevedo et al., 2014) fMRI study finding empathy for happy and distressed partners and strangers.”
BackgroundMethodResultInfluentialSelf-citation
The Role of Gender in Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder: Differences Related to Hopelessness, Alexithymia, Coping Strategies, and Sensory Profile
Amerio, A., Natale, A., Gnecco, G. B., Lechiara, A., Verrina, E., Bianchi, D., Fusar‐Poli, L., Costanza, A., Serafini, G., Amore, M., et al. (2023) · Medicina · doi:10.3390/medicina59050950 · Cited by 19
“Individuals with sensory sensitivity report increased emotional, biological, and stress responsiveness to sensory stimuli [60,61].”
Background
Bridging the gap: fostering interactive stimming between non-speaking autistic children and their parents
Chen, R. S. Y. (2024) · Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnint.2024.1374882 · Cited by 19
“Trevarthen and Delafield-Butt (2013) argue that the socio-emotional differences associated with autistic children and adults are secondary consequences to sensory processing (see also Aron and Aron, 1997; Aron et al., 2012) and affective integration issues.”
Linking emotional reactivity “for better and for worse” to differential susceptibility to parenting among kindergartners
Slagt, M., Dubas, J. S., Ellis, B. J., van Aken, M. A. G., & Deković, M. (2018) · Development and Psychopathology · doi:10.1017/s0954579418000445 · Cited by 23
“…of these profiles would be associated with more traditional temperament markers (negative emotionality, surgency, effortful control, sensory processing sensitivity; see Aron et al., 2012; Slagt et al., 2017b), as well as whether there would be potential demographic differences among the profiles.”
BackgroundResultInfluential
The peril and promise of sensitivity in eating disorders
Sim, L. A., & Peterson, C. B. (2021) · International Journal of Eating Disorders · doi:10.1002/eat.23606 · Cited by 17
The Moderating Role of Surgency, Behavioral Inhibition, Negative Emotionality and Effortful Control in the Relationship between Parenting Style and Children’s Reactive and Proactive Aggression
del Puerto‐Golzarri, N., Azurmendi, A., Carreras, M. R., Muñoz, J. M., Braza, P., Vegas, Ó., & Pascual‐Sagastizábal, E. (2022) · Children · doi:10.3390/children9010104 · Cited by 20
“Others, however, suggest that children with low surgency are the ones who are more sensitive to their environment [46], since they may feel overwhelmed by it [47], which could, in turn, be linked to higher levels of aggressive behavior.”
Background
Sensory Processing Sensitivity and its Relation to Sensation Seeking
Acevedo, B. P., Aron, E., Aron, A., Cooper, T., & Marhenke, R. (2023) · Current Research in Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.crbeha.2023.100100 · Cited by 16
Self-citation
Sensory processing sensitivity and its association with seasonal affective disorder
Hjordt, L. V., & Stenbæk, D. S. (2018) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2018.12.112 · Cited by 25
Parallels in the interactive effect of highly sensitive personality and social factors on behaviour problems in dogs and humans
Dube, M. B., Asher, L., Würbel, H., Riemer, S., & Melotti, L. (2020) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-020-62094-9 · Cited by 17
Personality Traits as Potential Susceptibility Markers: Differential Susceptibility to Support Among Parents
Slagt, M., Dubas, J. S., Denissen, J. J. A., Deković, M., & van Aken, M. A. G. (2014) · Journal of Personality · doi:10.1111/jopy.12091 · Cited by 20
On Sense-Making Reactions and Public Inhibition of Benign Social Motives
van den Bos, K., & Lind, E. A. (2013) · Advances in experimental social psychology · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-407188-9.00001-6 · Cited by 18
Sensory processing, perceived stress and burnout symptoms in a working population during the COVID-19 crisis
van den Boogert, F., Spaan, P., Sizoo, B., Bouman, Y. H. A., Hoogendijk, W. J. G., & Roza, S. J. (2022) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph19042043 · Cited by 16
Sensory processing sensitivity: theory, evidence, and directions
Greven, C. U., Trupp, M. D., Homberg, J. R., & Slagter, H. A. (2025) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tics.2025.10.007 · Cited by 16
The contribution of Sensory Processing Sensitivity and internalized attachment representations on emotion regulation competencies in school-age children
Sperati, A., Acevedo, B. P., Dellagiulia, A., Fasolo, M., Spinelli, M., D’Urso, G., & Lionetti, F. (2024) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1357808 · Cited by 16
Psychometric properties of the highly sensitive person scale and its relation to symptom dimensions in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder
Khosravani, V., Ganji, Z., Bastan, F. S., Ardestani, S. M. S., & Amirinezhad, A. (2019) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-019-00212-1 · Cited by 21
Short Polish version of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale – exploring its multidimensional structure in a sample of emerging adults
Baryła‐Matejczuk, M., Poleszak, W., & Porzak, R. (2021) · Current Issues in Personality Psychology · doi:10.5114/cipp.2021.107339 · Cited by 16
Sensory Processing Sensitivity and Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Japanese Adults
Iimura, S., & Takasugi, S. (2022) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph19169893 · Cited by 16
The Keys for Success: Leadership Core Competencies
Pidgeon, K. (2017) · Journal of Trauma Nursing · doi:10.1097/jtn.0000000000000322 · Cited by 16

Authors: Aron, E. N., Aron, A., & Jagiellowicz, J.
Affiliations: Stony Brook University (US)
ORCID: Aron, Arthur
Jagiellowicz, Jadzia
Venue: Personality and Social Psychology Review
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2012-01-30
Volume: 16
Issue: 3
Pages: 262-282
ISSN: 1088-8683 (ISSN-L)
1532-7957
DOI: 10.1177/1088868311434213
OpenAlex: W1976465304
Cited by: 645
References: 158
Citations by year: 2026: 88 · 2025: 100 · 2024: 80 · 2023: 58 · 2022: 61 · 2021: 55 · 2020: 35 · 2019: 36 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 32 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 5
FWCI: 18.47
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations: Personality and Social Psychology Review (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
Keywords: sensory processing sensitivity, animal personality, environmental sensitivity, behavioral inhibition, stimulus sensitivity, levels of processing, emotional reactivity, physiological reactivity, Highly Sensitive Person Scale, temperament, genetic research, neuroimaging
MeSH terms: Animals, Emotions, Biological Evolution, Humans, Inhibition, Psychological, Nervous System Physiological Phenomena, Physical Stimulation, Sensation

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Sensory Processing Sensitivity: A Review in the Light of the Evolution of Biological Responsivity

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