Differential Susceptibility & Developmental Outcomes

Question 1

what is environmental sensitivity?

Answer 1

the ability to perceive, process and respond to environmental influences

Question 2

is environmental sensitivity unique to humans?

Answer 2

no, it is a fundamental trait observed across many species

Question 3

do all people have the same level of environmental sensitivity?

Answer 3

no, there are substantial individual differences

Question 4

how do highly sensitive individuals differ from less sensitive individuals?

Answer 4

highly sensitive individuals react more strongly to both negative and positive environments

Question 5

what are examples of high environmental sensitivity?

Answer 5

noticing subtle cues, deeper emotional responses and stronger reactions to stress or support

Question 6

why don’t all individuals exposed to adversity develop mental health problems?

Answer 6

individuals differ in environmental sensitivity

Question 7

do positive environments always have positive effects?

Answer 7

no, benefits depend on the individual’s level of sensitivity

Question 8

what broad factors contribute to individual differences in sensitivity?

Answer 8

biological, psychological and physiological characteristics

Question 9

what genetic factors are linked to sensitivity?

Answer 9

variations in dopamine - and serotonin-related genes

Question 10

what neural markers are associated with sensitivty?

Answer 10

amygdala reactivity and hippocampal volume

Question 11

what temperament traits are linked to sensitivity?

Answer 11

behavioural inhibition and negative emotionality

Question 12

what physiological markers indicate sensitivity?

Answer 12

heightened stress reactivity and immune reactivity

Question 13

how is environmental sensitivity typically studied?

Answer 13

by testing whether a marker moderates the effect of environment on outcomes

Question 14

what research design is commonly used?

Answer 14

interaction designs examining environment x sensitivity effects

Question 15

how do twin studies capture environmental sensitivity?

Answer 15

by measuring within-pair differences in monozygotic (MZ) twins

Question 16

what does greater within-pair variability indicate?

Answer 16

greater sensitivity to environmental influences

Question 17

how are genetic variants linked to sensitivity identified?

Answer 17

through genome-wide association scans of twin discordance

Question 18

what is a polygenic environmental sensitivity score?

Answer 18

a weighted sum of sensitivity-related genetic variants

Question 19

how do questionnaires conceptualise sensitivity?

Answer 19

as a stable personality trait

Question 20

what is the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSP)?

Answer 20

a self-report measure of environmental sensitivity in children

Question 21

how many factors did early sensitivity scales propose?

Answer 21

one general sensitivity factor

Question 22

what 3 factors emerged from later analyses on sensitivity?

Answer 22

ease of excitation, low sensory threshold, and aesthetic sensitivity

Question 23

what is ease of excitation?

Answer 23

becoming easily overwhelmed by demands or busy environments

Question 24

what is low sensory threshold?

Answer 24

discomfort with intense sensory input

Question 25

what is aesthetic sensitivity?

Answer 25

deep responsiveness to beauty and subtle details

Question 26

why was the original HSP scale criticised?

Answer 26

overemphasis on negative aspects of sensitivty

Question 27

what six aspects are included in revised HSP measures?

Answer 27

sensitivity to details, social sensitivity, sensitivity to positive experiences, depth of processing, emotional reactivity, overstimulation

Question 28

what is the diathesis-stress model?

Answer 28

vulnerability factors increase risk only in adverse environments

Question 29

how do vulnerable individuals fare in supportive environments?

Answer 29

similar to others

Question 30

why is it called a 'for worse only' model?

Answer 30

vulnerability increases negative outcomes but not positive ones

Question 31

what is differential susceptibility?

Answer 31

some individuals are more responsive to both negative and positive environments

Question 32

why is called a 'for better and for worse' model?

Answer 32

sensitive individuals do worse in adversity but better in supportive contexts

Question 33

which theories underpin differential susceptibility?

Answer 33

Differential Susceptibility Theory, Biological Sensitivity to Context, Sensory Processing Sensitivity

Question 34

is environmental sensitivity categorical or continuous?

Answer 34

continuous

Question 35

what does empirical data show about sensitivity distribution?

Answer 35

a normal (not bimodal) distribution

Question 36

how is sensitivity related to extraversion?

Answer 36

negatively correlated

Question 37

how is sensitivity related to neuroticism?

Answer 37

positively correlated

Question 38

what does recent evidence show about sensitivity?

Answer 38

moderates environmental effects on development for better and worse

Question 39

which context provides strongest evidence for differential susceptibility?

Answer 39

parenting

Question 40

how does difficult temperament interact with childcare quality?

Answer 40

worse outcomes in low-quality care but better outcomes in high-quality care

Question 41

how does cortisol reactivity interact parenting?

Answer 41

highly reactive children are more affected by both supportive and overprotective parenting

Question 42

how does anxious solitude interact with classroom climate?

Answer 42

high-AS children benefit most from positive climates and are harmed most by negative ones

Question 43

how does temperament interact with nature exposure? whats a key limitation in this literature?

Answer 43

low effortful control boys benefit more from high nature exposure and it was predominantly cross-sectional and correlational designs

Question 44

why is stability of sensitivity unclear?

Answer 44

limited longitudinal evidence across the lifespan

Question 45

what is a problem with susceptibility markers?

Answer 45

heterogeneity and unclear overlap between markers

Question 46

why might questionnaire studies be biased?

Answer 46

over-representation of negative items

Question 47

what is population bias?

Answer 47

over-reliance on WEIRD samples

Question 48

what statistical challenge exists?

Answer 48

detecting non-linear 'for better and for worse' interactions

Question 49

what ethical concerns have been raised?

Answer 49

commercial exploitation of sensitivity concepts

Question 50

what is domain specificity in sensitivity?

Answer 50

sensitivity varies across environmental domains and outcomes

Question 51

are the same children sensitive across all contexts?

Answer 51

no

Question 52

what does domain specificity challenge?

Answer 52

the idea of a single, universally sensitive group

Question 53

how does sensitivity affect response to interventions?

Answer 53

highly sensitive individuals often benefit more

Question 54

what was shown in a school-based intervention?

Answer 54

high-sensitive adolescents showed greater reductions in depression

Question 55

how does sensitivity relate to CBT outcomes?

Answer 55

highly sensitive children benefit more from high-intensity CBT

Question 56

how do less sensitive children respond to CBT?

Answer 56

they do equally well across treatment formats

Question 57

how should sensitivity be reframed clinically?

Answer 57

as sensitivity rather than vulnerability

Question 58

why is reframing sensitivity beneficial?

Answer 58

reduces stigma and promotes empowerment

Question 59

how can sensitivity inform treatment decisions?

Answer 59

by tailoring intervention intensity and environmental modifications

Question 60

what role might sensitivity play in relapse prevention?

Answer 60

highly sensitive individuals may need closer monitoring

Question 61

what markers support differential susceptibility?

Answer 61

genetic, temperament, personality, neural and physiological markers