Relationship Between the Temperament Trait of Sensory Processing Sensitivity and Emotional Reactivity

Jagiellowicz, Jadzia; Aron, Arthur; Aron, Elaine N.

doi:10.2224/sbp.2016.44.2.185

Cited by 62 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…These findings are consistent with research showing that emotional bonds between actors and perceivers facilitate mutual intention perception, and those with stronger bonds show greater intention understanding (e.g., Ortigue and Bianchi-Demicheli 2008). Our results were also in-line with previous SPS studies showing strong responses to positive stimuli (Jagiellowicz 2012). It is interesting to note that in our study we found no evidence of activation in the amygdala -a brain region that is known to be involved in emotional processing-as a function of SPS in response to emotional social stimuli.…”

Section: Brain Regionsupporting

confidence: 93%

The highly sensitive brain: an fMRI study of sensory processing sensitivity and response to others' emotions

et al. 2014

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BackgroundTheory and research suggest that sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), found in roughly 20% of humans and over 100 other species, is a trait associated with greater sensitivity and responsiveness to the environment and to social stimuli. Self-report studies have shown that high-SPS individuals are strongly affected by others' moods, but no previous study has examined neural systems engaged in response to others' emotions.MethodsThis study examined the neural correlates of SPS (measured by the standard short-form Highly Sensitive Person [HSP] scale) among 18 participants (10 females) while viewing photos of their romantic partners and of strangers displaying positive, negative, or neutral facial expressions. One year apart, 13 of the 18 participants were scanned twice.ResultsAcross all conditions, HSP scores were associated with increased brain activation of regions involved in attention and action planning (in the cingulate and premotor area [PMA]). For happy and sad photo conditions, SPS was associated with activation of brain regions involved in awareness, integration of sensory information, empathy, and action planning (e.g., cingulate, insula, inferior frontal gyrus [IFG], middle temporal gyrus [MTG], and PMA).ConclusionsAs predicted, for partner images and for happy facial photos, HSP scores were associated with stronger activation of brain regions involved in awareness, empathy, and self-other processing. These results provide evidence that awareness and responsiveness are fundamental features of SPS, and show how the brain may mediate these traits.

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Section: Brain Regionsupporting

confidence: 93%

The highly sensitive brain: an fMRI study of sensory processing sensitivity and response to others' emotions

et al. 2014

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“…This result would be expected given that the emotional importance of a subject tends to determine how thoroughly it is processed (Baumeister, Vohs, DeWall, & Zhang, ). In a series of behavioral and fMRI experiments (Acevedo et al, ; Jagiellowicz, Aron, & Aron, ), high‐SPS individuals responded more strongly to both standard pleasant (e.g., puppies, birthday cakes) and unpleasant (e.g., snakes, spiders) photos compared with neutral ones, with the response to pleasant photos being particularly strong. This greater responsiveness may well influence all the PSE factors and make one more susceptible to parenting experiences, in that high‐SPS individuals would find the negative parts of parenting more negative and the positive parts more positive.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sensory Processing Sensitivity and the Subjective Experience of Parenting: An Exploratory Study

Aron

Nardone

et al. 2019

Family Relations

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Objective To explore the relationship between sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) and parental subjective experience (PSE). Background SPS is a temperament trait characterized by greater sensitivity to environmental and social stimuli; no previous research has examined the relation of SPS to PSE (e.g., how much parents feel parenting is difficult or feel connected to their child). Method In the first of two online studies, mothers were unaware of the study's relation to SPS (N = 92). In the second, mothers (n = 802) and fathers (n = 65) were recruited through an SPS‐related website. SPS was assessed by the short version of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale; PSE by 27 items with three components—Parenting Difficulties, Good Coparenting Relationship, and Attunement to Child. Results Controlling or not for external stressors, negative affectivity, children's age, and socioeconomic status, high‐SPS mothers in both studies scored meaningfully higher on Parenting Difficulties and Attunement to Child; high‐SPS fathers scored higher on Attunement to Child. SPS had little association with Coparenting Relationship. Conclusion Parents high in SPS report more attunement with child, although mothers found parenting more difficult. Implications This information could aid family researchers, particularly by considering the role of adult temperament. It also suggests that interventions focused on high‐SPS parents could improve their parenting experience and hence perhaps enhance child development. Thus, this research and what may follow from it could advance both theory and practice.

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“…Thereby, they do refer to any, high as well as low‐SPS, expatriate. However, because HSPs are aware of and more reactive to both positive and negative stimuli to a higher degree (Jagiellowicz et al ., ), they are by their nature more prone to be overwhelmed (Aron, ). Thus, high‐SPS expatriates are expected to be stressed more frequently in the new environment abroad.…”

Section: Towards a Research Model Of Expatriates' Sensory Processingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do Overwhelmed Expatriates Intend to Leave? The Effects of Sensory Processing Sensitivity, Stress, and Social Capital on Expatriates' Turnover Intention

Andresen

Goldmann

Volodina

2017

European Management Review

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Expatriates need to deal with numerous stimuli resulting from new environmental and cultural influences abroad, contributing to stress and high rates of failure and turnover. Based on conservation-of-resources theory, this study aims to explore the role of resources (including sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) and social capital) in explaining expatriates' perceived stress and turnover intention. This is the first study to examine the personality trait SPS in the field of expatriate management. High-SPS individuals tend to be easily overwhelmed by novel stimuli. Based on a dataset of 311 expatriates, structural equation model (SEM) and mediation analyses proved full mediation of the positive relation between SPS and turnover intention through perceived stress. Moreover, stress fully mediated the negative relation between bonding social capital and turnover intention. While 20% of the domestic population are assumed to show high SPS, we found a 26.4% ratio in our expatriate sample. Implications for both management and research are derived.

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Relationship Between the Temperament Trait of Sensory Processing Sensitivity and Emotional Reactivity

Cited by 62 publications

References 73 publications

The highly sensitive brain: an fMRI study of sensory processing sensitivity and response to others' emotions

The highly sensitive brain: an fMRI study of sensory processing sensitivity and response to others' emotions

Sensory Processing Sensitivity and the Subjective Experience of Parenting: An Exploratory Study

Do Overwhelmed Expatriates Intend to Leave? The Effects of Sensory Processing Sensitivity, Stress, and Social Capital on Expatriates' Turnover Intention

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