The Highly Sensitive Person
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To Researchers

If you wish to use the HSP Scale for research purposes, see Tips for Researchers. You may download the measure here. (You must obtain permission from the American Psychological Association in the case of the HSP Scale, the scale version here, and Kensington Press in the case of the Self-Test, the true-false version, before you put these on a website or publish them. They will ask you to provide the copyright information.)

Below are the articles authored by me and my collaborators. An overview that includes related articles by other authors is in the 2012 PSPR review below. As that becomes out of date you can find the latest articles by searching PsychInfo for “sensitivity” or “sensory processing sensitivity” as well as related ideas such as "biological sensitivity to context” and “orienting sensitivity.”

(Note that Sensory Processing Disorder or Sensory Integration Disorder is not related to what is measured by the HSP Scale or the general construct of Sensory Processing Sensitivity, the concept described here, which is a normal temperament variation found in 20% of the population and, by itself, does not cause impairment or distress.)


Aron, E. N. (2012). Temperament in psychotherapy: Reflections on clinical practice with the trait of sensitivity. In M. Zentner & R. Shiner (Eds.), Handbook of temperament (pp. 645-670). New York: Guilford.

Aron, E., Aron A., and Jagiellowicz, J. (2012) Sensory processing sensitivity: A review in the light of the evolution of biological responsivity. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 16, 262-282.

Abstract online and free. Full text can be gotten through subscribing or if you have a link to an academic library.

Jagiellowicz, J., Xu, X., Aron, A., Aron, E., Cao, G., Feng, T., & Weng, X. (2010) The trait of sensory processing sensitivity and neural responses to changes in visual scenes. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 6, 38-47.

Full Text (pdf)

Stony Brook University Press Release on it

Aron, A., Ketay, S., Hedden, T., Aron, E. N., Markus, H. R., & Gabrieli, J. D. E. (2010) Temperament trait of sensory processing sensitivity moderates cultural differences in
neural response. Social Cogn
itive and Affective Neuroscience, 6, 38-47.

Full text (pdf)

Stony Brook University press release on it

Aron, E., The clinical implications of Jung's concept of sensitiveness, Journal of Jungian Theory and Practice, 8, 11-43.

Full Text (pdf)

Aron, E. N., Aron, A., & Davies, K. (2005). Adult shyness: The interaction of temperamental sensitivity and an adverse childhood environment. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 31, 181-197.

Full Text (pdf)

Aron, E. N. (2004). Revisiting Jung's concept of innate sensitiveness. Journal of Analytical Psychology, 49, 337-367.

Full Text (pdf)

Aron, E. N. (2004). The impact of temperament on intimacy and closeness. In The Handbook of Closeness and Intimacy. Eds. D. Mashek and A. Aron (pp. 267-283). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

Aron, E. N. (2000). High sensitivity as one source of fearfulness and shyness: Preliminary research and clinical implications. In L. Schmidt & J. Schulkin (Eds.), Extreme fear, shyness, and social phobia: Origins, biological mechanisms, and clinical outcomes (pp. 251-272). New York: Oxford University Press.

This article contains the HSP scale and its development:

Aron, E. & Aron, A. (1997). Sensory-processing sensitivity and its relation to introversion and emotionality, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73, 345-368.

Full Text (pdf)

Aron, E. N. (1996). "Counseling the highly sensitive person." Counseling and Human Development, 28, 1-7.

 



Media or Researcher Contact Channels
Media contacts requesting interviews or arranging for possible speaking opportunities, and researchers seeking contact regarding the concept of high sensitivity may fill out the Media/Researcher Contact web form.