As predicted from PARCS theory, our results showed that ATQ orienting sensitivity was positively associated with objectively determined sensitivity (inverse of the masked auditory threshold). Furthermore, and crucial for answering our research question, both types of reactivity to strong stimulation related to (self-reported and objectively measured) sensitivity to weak stimuli, but only when controlled for each other, indicating a mutual suppression effect. These findings are in line with the notion of PARCS theory that punishment and reward reactivity overlap in terms of reactivity toward stimulation, but that these tendencies also oppose each other in terms of response orientation (approach or avoid). Note that associations between the reactivity measures and self-reported sensitivity to weak stimuli were replicated when sensitivity was objectively measured as the masked auditory threshold, which makes it unlikely that the associations between sensitivity to weak stimuli and the reactivity to strong stimuli were driven by response bias.