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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Influential
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“Individuals high on SPS are characterized by greater awareness of others’ mood and subtle social cues and higher emotional and physiological reactivity (Aron & Aron, 1997; Aron et al., 2012).”
Background
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“Yet , its association with empathy, openness, and creativity (Acevedo et al., 2018), as well as serving an evolutionary function in threat detection (Aron et al., 2012), allow for greater responsivity and growth in response to supportive environments.”
Background
Sensory processing sensitivity is negatively associated with sensation seeking
Watten, R. G., Volden, F. S., & Trå, H. V. (2024) · Current Issues in Personality Psychology · doi:10.5114/cipp/178415 · Cited by 6
“Our results support the view of Aron et al. (2012) that the HSPS scale seems to capture perceived intensity of sensory stimulation.”
BackgroundResult
Exploring the effect of environmental sensitivity on emotional fluctuations among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: a three-wave longitudinal study
Dragone, M., Colella, A., Esposito, C., & Bacchini, D. (2024) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1443054 · Cited by 6
“…notion that individuals with higher Environmental Sensitivity perceive a higher level of threat when exposed to images depicting terrorist attacks due to their deeper processing of sensory information and heightened emotional and behavioral reactivity triggered by such exposure (Aron et al., 2012).”
BackgroundInfluential
Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Highly Sensitive Child Scale among Chinese adolescents
Li, Y. L., Cheng, G., Zhou, X. H., Fan, T. T., Du, F. L., & Chen, J. (2024) · Children and Youth Services Review · doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107753 · Cited by 3
COVID-19 trauma-related stress in young people: do sensory-processing sensitivity, resilience, and life satisfaction play a role?
Iordanou, C., & Turner, E. (2024) · Psychology Health & Medicine · doi:10.1080/13548506.2024.2439065 · Cited by 3
The hippocampus–IPL connectivity links to ADHD traits through sensory processing sensitivity
Zhou, L., Xu, T., & Feng, T. (2025) · Cerebral Cortex · doi:10.1093/cercor/bhaf063 · Cited by 4
Exploring links between sensory processing sensitivity, professional quality of life, and negative affectivity in clinical and counselling psychologists
McQuarrie, A. M., & Jakobson, L. S. (2025) · PLOS mental health. · doi:10.1371/journal.pmen.0000362 · Cited by 3
“The majority of individuals possessing high levels of this trait have most likely developed strategies for general coping and emotion regulation that allow them to function in their typical environment [9].”
Influential
Association of postmigration stressors and intolerance of uncertainty to posttraumatic stress disorder in asylum seekers: the moderating role of environmental sensitivity
Moscardino, U. M. M., Ceccon, C., Mastromatteo, L. Y., Scrimin, S., Lionetti, F., & Pluess, M. (2025) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1441946 · Cited by 3
Demographic profile of Sensory Processing Sensitivity
Morales-Botello, M. L., Betancort, M., Pérez-Chacón, M., Jiménez, R. M. R., & Chacón, A. (2025) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2025.113484 · Cited by 3
Evolution of the concept of sensory processing sensitivity and its measurement: The Highly Sensitive Person scale-revised
Pluess, M., Aron, E. N., Kähkönen, J. E., Lionetti, F., Huang, Y. P., Tillmann, T., Greven, C. U., & Aron, A. (2026) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2026.113782 · Cited by 13
Self-citation
Spillover Between Daily Marital Interactions and Parenting Practices: Sensory Processing Sensitivity as Moderators
Yan, N., Dai, X., Ding, X., & Bi, S. (2024) · Social Psychological and Personality Science · doi:10.1177/19485506241234093 · Cited by 3
Parenting an Adolescent: The Case of the Avoidant Highly Sensitive Mother
Goldberg, A., & Zibenberg, A. (2024) · Child Psychiatry & Human Development · doi:10.1007/s10578-024-01761-8 · Cited by 3
The Hidden Narcissus in the Orchid: The relationship between sensory processing sensitivity, narcissism, self-esteem, and the HEXACO personality traits
Gubler, D. A., Janelt, T., Roth, M., & Troche, S. J. (2024) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2024.112891 · Cited by 3
Disentangling general and sport-specific risk factors for anxiety and depression in a mixed sample of athletes and non-athletes
Landeghem, C. V., & Jakobson, L. S. (2024) · Psychology of sport and exercise · doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2024.102773 · Cited by 3
Painfully Sensitive: How Sensory Processing Sensitivity Affects Healthy Adolescents’ Perception of Pain
Hochreuter, J., Wehrli, S., Locher, C., Lionetti, F., Kossowsky, J., Pluess, M., & Koechlin, H. (2025) · Journal of Pain Research · doi:10.2147/jpr.s473575 · Cited by 3
Network-based meta-analysis of sensory processing sensitivity: Exploring its relations with personality and temperament traits
Tang, R., Dai, X., Greven, C. U., Li, Z., Zhu, C., & Yan, N. (2025) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2025.113435 · Cited by 3
The Associations between Imageability of Positive and Negative Valence Words and Fear Reactivity
Raghunath, B. L., Mulatti, C., Neoh, M. J. Y., Bornstein, M. H., & Esposito, G. (2021) · Psychiatry International · doi:10.3390/psychiatryint2010003 · Cited by 4
Is sensory processing sensitivity associated with psychoactive substance use?
Mary‐Krause, M., Bustamante, J. J. H., Collard, L., & Melchior, M. (2022) · Emerging Trends in Drugs Addictions and Health · doi:10.1016/j.etdah.2022.100038 · Cited by 4
Understanding heterogeneity in pathways between interparental conflict and children's involvement: The moderating role of affect-biased attention
Thompson, M. J., Davies, P. T., & Sturge‐Apple, M. L. (2022) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/cdev.13873 · Cited by 3
Posttraumatic stress symptoms and chronic pain: Cross‐sectional associations with perception of sensory and social stimuli
Pierce, J. M., Mohan, N., Fatabhoy, M. G., McAfee, J., Zhu, G., & Hassett, A. L. (2022) · Mental Health Science · doi:10.1002/mhs2.8 · Cited by 3
Psychological Well-Being in Highly Sensitive People
Ershova, R. V. (2023) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-99-2613-8_5 · Cited by 3
How Sensory Processing Sensitivity Shapes Employee Reactions to Core Job Characteristics
Vieregge, J., Sutter, C., & Sülzenbrück, S. (2023) · Zeitschrift für Arbeits- und Organisationspsychologie A&O · doi:10.1026/0932-4089/a000415 · Cited by 3
Sensory processing sensitivity is associated with religiosity and spirituality
Buchtova, M., Maliňáková, K., van Dijk, J. P., Hušek, V., & Tavel, P. (2024) · Humanities and Social Sciences Communications · doi:10.1057/s41599-024-02738-7 · Cited by 3
Lower Childhood Socioeconomic Status Is Associated with Greater Neural Responses to Ambient Auditory Changes in Adulthood
Hao, Y., & Hu, L. (2024) · Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience · doi:10.1162/jocn_a_02151 · Cited by 3
“Although this may seem advantageous, it can also be costly as it reflects a more reactive coping style (Aron, Aron, & Jagiellowicz, 2012, pp. 264).”
Beyond for-better-and-for-worse: expanding environmental sensitivity into a post-traumatic growth perspective
Sperati, A., Spinelli, M., Fasolo, M., Moscardino, U. M. M., Passaquindici, I., Straziuso, D., Gigliotti, G., D’Urso, G., Pluess, M., & Lionetti, F. (2024) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-024-06208-w · Cited by 3
“…marker that captures such individual differences in ES to stimuli is the biologically based individual trait of Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS; Aron & Aron, 1997 ; Aron et al., 2012 ), which can be measured with the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) scale (Aron & Aron, 1997 ; Pluess et al., 2023).”
Sensory-processing sensitivity, parenting styles, and adult attachment patterns in parents of young children
Branjerdporn, G., Gillespie, K. M., Green, M., Strong, J., & Meredith, P. J. (2024) · Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology · doi:10.1080/02646838.2024.2419381 · Cited by 3
“SPS is defined as the trait of having increased sensitivity, and abnormal reactivity, to both internal and external stimuli (Aron et al., 2012).”
Highly sensitive persons feel more emotionally lonely than the general population
Mečkovský, F., Novák, L., Meier, Z., Tavel, P., & Maliňáková, K. (2025) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-025-87138-w · Cited by 3
Parent–Child Eye Gaze Congruency to Emotional Expressions Mediated by Child Aesthetic Sensitivity
Christou, A. I., Fanti, K. A., Mavrommatis, I., & Soursou, G. (2025) · Children · doi:10.3390/children12070839 · Cited by 3
“A key trait within this framework is Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS)—a biologically based disposition characterized by increased emotional responsiveness, heightened perceptual awareness, and depth of processing [5,6].”
Incognito Libido: Introducing the Sexual False Self Scale
Burris, C. T., & Schrage, K. M. (2014) · Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity The Journal of Treatment and Prevention · doi:10.1080/10720162.2013.879378 · Cited by 3
Small shifts, big changes: changing the story for students with Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS)
Cater, K. (2016) · International Journal for Transformative Research · doi:10.1515/ijtr-2016-0010 · Cited by 3
“HSP can be identified in a human population by the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS), a 27 point self-test which measures responses to general and subtle environmental and internal stimulation (Aron & Aron, 1997; Aron et al., 2012; Sobocko & Zelenski, 2015).”
BackgroundInfluential
Leader Deception and Ethical Decision-Making
Stenmark, C. K. (2022) · International Journal of Responsible Leadership and Ethical Decision-Making · doi:10.4018/ijrledm.315612 · Cited by 3
Communicating while stimulated: the effects of sensory-processing sensitivity on behavior and relationships
Gearhart, C. C. (2012) · doi:10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.4054 · Cited by 3
The Effect of Environment on Psychological Outcomes of the Highly Sensitive Person: A Systematic Scoping ReviewPreprint
Cadogan, E., Murphy, M. F., Lionetti, F., & Setti, A. (2022) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/edy7k · Cited by 5
The Impact of Sleep on Sensory Processing in Typically Developing Children: Insights from Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Data
Bellemare, S., López‐Arango, G., Deguire, F., Knoth, I. S., & Lippé, S. (2025) · Children · doi:10.3390/children12020153 · Cited by 2
“Sensory processing refers to the brain’s ability to receive, organize, and respond to sensory input (visual, auditory, tactile, taste, smell, proprioception, and vestibular) [23,24].”
Sensory processing sensitivity and health-related quality of life: the mediational role of coping strategies
Mas, M. D. L. M. B., Sánchez-Fernández, M., Almeda, N., Pérez-Chacón, M., & Navas, J. M. M. (2025) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2025.113242 · Cited by 2
“Individuals with high SPS are characterised by deep information processing, increased perception of environmental subtleties, increased emotional expression and empathy, and susceptibility to central nervous system overstimulation (Aron et al., 2012).”
Validation of the Parent-Report and Self-Report Versions of Highly Sensitive Child Scale in Serbian Samples
Rajić, I., Lazić, M., & Pluess, M. (2025) · European Journal of Psychological Assessment · doi:10.1027/1015-5759/a000903 · Cited by 2
Adapting the Highly Sensitive Child Scale-21 item: a psychometric evaluation in a mainland China sample
Ling, Y., Zhou, W., Pluess, M., Weyn, S., Huebner, E. S., & Zhong, M. (2025) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-024-07271-z · Cited by 2
“…association may be attributed to hypersensitivity to stress - ful situations in individuals with high sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), leading to strong negative reactions and sensory overload, which the EOE factor captures (Aron et al., 2010; 2012; Ellis & Boyce, 2011; Slagt et al., 2018).”
Beyond emotional distress: Exploring the positive link between highly sensitive person trait and aesthetic sensitivity
Liu, J., & Fukushima, H. (2025) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2025.113285 · Cited by 2
Autistic traits in fibromyalgia are associated with hypersensitivity and central sensitisation
Johnston, H., & Bacon, A. M. (2025) · Psychology Health & Medicine · doi:10.1080/13548506.2025.2519237 · Cited by 2
“…sensitisation in musculoskeletal pain conditions (Clark et al., 2017; 2019) as highly sensitive people may be more easily overwhelmed by sensory input, emotions, social situations and stress (Aron & Aron, 1997, Aron et al, 2005; Aron et al., 2012; Grinapol et al., 2022; Lionetti et al., 2018).”
How negative affect moderates the effect of mindful parenting on child externalizing behavior: Frontal alpha asymmetry as environmental sensitivity factor
Chhangur, R. R., den Bergh, B. R. H. V., Hillekens, J., & van den Heuvel, M. I. (2025) · Development and Psychopathology · doi:10.1017/s0954579425100291 · Cited by 3
“Finally, the Sensory Processing Sensitivity Model (Aron et al., 2012) highlights heightened sensory processing as a key aspect of environmental sensitivity, with highly sensitive individuals experiencing and responding more intensely to their environment.”

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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