Highly Sensitive Person
Characteristics
HSP, or Highly Sensitive Person, is a concept introduced by psychologist Dr. Elaine Aron in the 1990s to describe individuals who have a heightened sensitivity to external stimuli and are more deeply affected by their environment and the emotions of others.
HSP characteristics can vary from person to person, but they often include the following:
- Heightened Sensory Perception: HSPs tend to be more aware of sensory input, such as noise, light, smell, and touch. They may be easily overwhelmed by strong stimuli and prefer quieter, less stimulating environments.
- Emotional Sensitivity: HSPs are more emotionally responsive. They may have strong emotional reactions to art, music, and other forms of self-expression.
- Deep Processing: HSPs tend to process information deeply and reflect on their experiences. They may take longer to make decisions because they consider all angles and possible outcomes.
- Overwhelm Easily: HSPs are more prone to sensory overload and can become overwhelmed by busy or chaotic environments. They may need regular breaks to recharge.
- Strong Intuition: Many HSPs have a strong sense of intuition, which can be valuable in decision-making and interpersonal relationships.
- Awareness of Subtle Details: They tend to notice and appreciate subtle details that others may overlook, whether it’s in nature, art, or human interactions.
- Need for Solitude: HSPs often require regular periods of solitude and downtime to recharge and process their experiences.
- Sensitive to Criticism: HSPs may be more sensitive to criticism and negative feedback, taking it to heart more deeply than others.
- Creativity: Many HSPs are creative individuals who use their heightened Sensitivity to create art, music, literature, and other forms of self-expression.
- High Empathy*: HSPs often have a high degree of empathy and can easily connect with and understand the emotions of others. They may be drawn to helping professions and strongly desire to make a positive impact on the world.
*Empathy is a coping mechanism for High Sensitivity. Therefore, every empath is also highly sensitive. But not every highly sensitive person is an empath.
