The role of sensory processing sensitivity and analytic mind-set in ethical decision-making

ABSTRACT Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) is an individual difference that affects people’s thinking and behavior. People who are high in SPS, Highly Sensitive People (HSPs), are more sensitive to stimuli and prefer to take their time in thinking through problems. This study examined the effects of SPS and analytic mind-set on ethical decision-making. Mind-Set was manipulated by instructing participants to either think thoroughly through the ethical problem (deliberation) or focus on finding a concrete, practical solution when solving the problems (implementation). HSPs performed better in the deliberative mind-set, allowing them to solve the problem using their natural problem-solving approach. People low in SPS performed better in the implementation mind-set. Results suggest that ethics interventions should not be “one size fits all,” and should consider a person’s natural problem-solving tendencies.