Publikationen

This theoretical paper introduces the concept of Biological Sensitivity to Context, an evolutionary-developmental theory that describes how the quality of early life experiences shapes an individual’s level of sensitivity through the programming of their physiological stress reactivity.

According to this theory, particularly negative as well as especially positive childhood environments appear to be associated with greater physiological reactivity later in life.

In contrast, stress reactivity is lowest for individuals with childhood environments that were neither extremely beneficial nor extremely adverse.

Importantly, heightened physiological stress reactivity is then associated with increased sensitivity to both negative and positive experiences. The theory is supported by empirical studies which are reviewed.

In this conceptual paper on gene-environment interaction, the authors propose that some genetic variants may reflect broad sensitivity to the environment rather than an inherent vulnerability for the development of psychological problems when exposed to adverse influences.

The authors refer to three well-known examples of vulnerability genes that have been associated with heightened risk for the development of antisocial behaviour, depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

In all three cases some studies show that people that carry the risk variants are not only more likely to develop problems when experiencing adversity but also less likely to develop problems when experiencing a supportive environment.

This paper introduces the concept of Differential Susceptibility. It lays out the theoretical foundations and then reviews a large number of studies that provide empirical evidence for the concept.

According to Differential Susceptibility Theory, children differ fundamentally in their developmental response to environmental influences with some being more and some less sensitive.

Importantly, more susceptible individuals are not only more affected by the negative effects of adverse experiences but also particularly responsive to the positive effects of supportive experiences.

According to empirical studies susceptibility has been associated with specific genetic, physiological and behavioural factors which are reviewed in this paper.

In this conceptual paper Environmental Sensitivity is discussed from an evolutionary-developmental perspective and in relation to the frameworks of Differential Susceptibility and Biological Sensitivity to Context.

Authors discuss similarities and differences between the two sensitivity theories and outline the neurobiological and physiological mechanisms of sensitivity in an attempt to integrate the two frameworks.

After summarising empirical evidence for individual differences in sensitivity, authors discuss methodological and statistical considerations for research on sensitivity as well as the practical implications of sensitivity for psychosocial interventions before suggesting an agenda for future research on Environmental Sensitivity.

This review paper covers the concept of Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) and its four proposed components drawing on the scientific literature from various fields of research.

The paper reviews research on animal personality and suggests that sensitivity should be considered an evolutionary trait based on the observation that the trait has been found in many different species.

It then summarises research in humans, including work on infant temperament and personality traits in relation to sensitivity.

Finally, the review covers research on SPS, including the development of the HSP scale, the four facets of SPS and the relationships between SPS and personality traits before proposing directions for future research

This paper introduces the concept of Vantage Sensitivity which is related to but different from Differential Susceptibility.

According to Vantage Sensitivity people differ significantly in their response to positive experiences: whereas some appear to benefit particularly strongly from positive experiences, others fail to do so.

Vantage Sensitivity differs from the related concept of Differential Susceptibility in that it only describes individual differences to positive experiences (it does not make predictions about the response to negative experiences).

Besides providing the theoretical foundation of the concept and delineating it from related constructs such as resilience, a range of studies are being reviewed that provide empirical evidence for Vantage Sensitivity.

These studies feature genetic, physiological and behavioural factors that have been shown to be associated with an increased responsivity to positive experiences.

This theoretical paper describes the integration of all leading sensitivity theories into a single framework.

The resulting concept of Environmental Sensitivity represents an overarching meta-framework for individual differences in sensitivity to environmental influences that integrates the three leading theories on sensitivity (i.e., Sensory Processing Sensitivity, Differential Susceptibility, and Biological Sensitivity to Context) as well as the related frameworks of Vantage Sensitivity and Diathesis-Stress.

According to the concept of Environmental Sensitivity, people differ in their sensitivity due to individual differences in their ability to perceive and process information about the environment.

Furthermore, differences in Environmental Sensitivity are proposed to be associated with specific features of the central nervous system and influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.

This paper provides a detailed and extensive review of research on sensitivity.

The review covers information on the various sensitivity theories, how sensitivity is measured, and whether it is a continuous or categorical trait.

It also discusses the underlying mechanisms of sensitivity, its relation with personality and temperament, as well as its development over time.

Furthermore, the authors suggest future directions for research on sensitivity.

These suggestions include the development of more objective measures, investigation of the genetic and environmental factors that shape sensitivity, as well as research on the relation between sensitivity and mental health outcomes.