Elizabeth Scott, PhD, wrote that “a highly sensitive person (HSP) is a term for those who are believed to have an increased or deeper central nervous system sensitivity to physical, emotional, or social stimuli.” It is, she notes, “a personality trait that brings both strengths and challenges.” It is now known that these traits do not represent a mental flaw or syndrome in a person, but rather a heightened response to the world around them. Many tests designed in the past to uncover whether someone was highly sensitive used negatively biased terms, reinforcing the common but incorrect belief that it represents a perceptual defect.

Clinical psychologist Dr. Elaine Aron and her husband, Dr. Arthur Aron, have led the exploration of HSP since 1991. Their findings include the understanding that as many as one in five people in the general population may be a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP). Dr. Aron further says that people who are highly sensitive are exhibiting a temperament, featuring a genetic or biological component. Temperament, she notes, makes up about 40% of personality.

A highly sensitive person perceives outside stimuli more strongly. It is important for HSPs to learn to manage this incoming information to prevent becoming overstimulated. Highly sensitive people are sometimes assumed to be introverts. In fact, thirty percent of adults Dr. Aron studied could be described as extraverts by preference. Many times, what appears to be introversion is a learned response to avoid overstimulation. In addition, highly sensitive people may be of any gender. However, Dr. Aron has noted some gender-specific differences in response.

If you’d like to explore whether you fit the profile of a highly sensitive person, Dr. Aron offers this online self-test.