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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“Defined by heightened emotional reactivity, deep cognitive processing, and increased sensitivity to environmental cues (Aron et al., 2012), SPS is considered a normative personality trait rather than a sensory disorder.”
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“People with elevated SPS are more likely to react to positive and negative stimuli in novel situations (Aron et al., 2012; Aron & Aron, 1997).”
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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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