A Review of the Concept of Psychological Sensitivity and its Measurement in Japan

ニホン　ニ　オケル　シンリテキ　カンジュセイ　ガイネン　ト　ソノ　ソクテイ　ホウホウ　ニ　ツイテ　ノ　レビュー

マツザキ, ミナコ

Matsuzaki, Minako

Department of Education, Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University

This paper summarizes the concept of psychological sensitivity and its measurement methods in the literature collected in Japan over the past decade. Psychological sensitivity is broadly classified into three categories: [1] sensitivity to sensory processing, [2] sensitivity to interpersonal relationships and social life, and [3] sensitivity to other specific stimuli, with [1] dealing with sensitivity to sensory stimuli, having the highest number of references. From the survey regarding the ambiguity of the concept of sensitivity and its measurement method, a problem ensues in that the classification of stimuli, as in [1], [2], and [3], is probably overlooked in the ambiguous impression of society that “highly sensitive persons have difficulty in living.” This consequently results in the measurement of sensitivity according to individual “difficulty in living” and detailed selfunderstanding. Hence, it is difficult to measure sensitivity and comprehensively understand oneself in accordance with one’s “difficulty in living.” In previous study, the relationship between multiple susceptibility concepts and their measurement scales is not structured, and the choice of scales and factor structures used differ from one study to another, which is thought to cause ambiguity. Therefore, the clarification and structuring of the relationships among concepts and measurement scales, multifaceted examination using various methods and perspectives, and promotion of practical research and dissemination of findings on susceptibility are identified as future prospects for psychological susceptibility research.