I looked through the website and realized I have not written a blog about the research since 2017! I truly apologize. At this point I can hardly keep up, because there are so many research studies on high sensitivity (a.k.a. Sensory Processing Sensitivity, which by the way has nothing to do with Sensory Processing Disorder). I do not even know most of these researchers, and they are all over the world, from Japan to Turkey. So much published research means that there is widespread interest in the subject now. It’s gone big time!
In this blog I will summarize some recent research, and in future blogs earlier studies, between 2018 and 2020.
Inevitable Problems with Research
There are inevitable problems with the increasing research, in that it is sometimes tending to lead to a more negative impression of highly sensitive people (HSPs) than is correct. That is, there is a bias towards expecting HSPs to have problems, and that seems to be true for two reasons. First, almost no studies look at differential susceptibility: That as adults HSPs with difficult childhoods have more problems than others do, but with good childhoods they have fewer problems, and in fact thrive. That is the natural result of being sensitive to your environment. We do not know the percentage of adult HSPs who had good childhoods, and it is probably not the majority because their parents did not know anything about the trait. So, if you average all HSPs together, they might appear to be rather troubled, as some of the research suggests. But that really misses “vantage sensitivity,” all the good that comes from being an HSP, especially when growing up in a good environment.
Problems with the HSP Scale and the Coming Revision
The second reason for this somewhat negative bias is the HSP Scale (the slightly longer, research-version of the HSP self-test on the website). The original scale was created in the early 1990s, at the very beginning of our research. Over the years we were bound to discover problems with it. Namely, almost every item is about something negative or the wording is negative: I am easily overwhelmed, I am made uncomfortable by…, I am annoyed when…, I get rattled when…, I try hard to avoid making mistakes, I become unpleasantly aroused, and so forth.
Besides the problem with negative wordings, the current scale is also negative because it is almost entirely about being easily overstimulated and measures very little of the rest of DOES–depth of processing, empathy/emotional responsiveness, and being sensitive to the subtle. We know the “Big O” in DOES is the only problem with being an HSP. But items about overstimulation sure hogged the measure!
Naturally the negative emphasis has led to study after study finding HSPs are more anxious, depressed, subject to burn out, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Grr. It would be okay if researchers asked about childhood so that they could look at differential susceptibility. Or even mention differential susceptibility as a possible factor in their results. But that is still rare. As a result, poor studies are coming out all the time.
So, we are creating a new scale that measures all of what is missing. There’s a group of us working on it. Together we have written new items, tested them, and found what seem to be the best 60, and are now reducing the list to the very best ones. It will correlate well with the old measure (be similar statistically), as it should, because the old HSP scale does pick out HSPs from others and show, for example, their brain differences on tasks or how differently they behave in experiments.
Recent Studies (Least Affected by the Problems Above)
You can find the abstracts of these articles by copying and pasting the title (in quotes, after the number below) into Google Scholar. When you find the abstract, if there is something on the right, click on that and the full article may come up. If there is only an abstract, there will usually be a large charge for the full article, but your local library maybe able to get it for you, or any university library to which you have access
- The study “Sensory processing sensitivity behavior moderates the association between environmental harshness, unpredictability, and child socioemotional functioning” found that over two years, children (around 3 at the start) high in SPS, compared to those without the trait, if they were living in an unpredictable family environment, were more likely to become what we might call “hard to deal with”—fighting, hitting, being resentful (these are termed externalizing behaviors, and remember these are very young kids). On the other hand, those low in SPS were not especially affected by unpredictability at home. (SPS was measured by children’s behaviors in a laboratory study, not by the HSP Scale.)
“Unpredictable” was measured by how often things like sickness or death in the family happened, or moves, a separation or divorce of parents, or a change in primary caregiver. Harsh parenting did not affect HSCs and non-HSCs differently.
This effect on HSCs of unpredictability came up in another study, in which HSCs in kindergarten were more affected than other children by unpredictable parenting, but not affected more than others by “bad” parenting (such as parents being too permissive or authoritarian). It seems HSCs can get used to almost anything except constant change. This may be true of you, too.
Bottom line: You might want to work on learning to expect change (read some Buddhism!), to plan how you will deal with a change when you know one is coming (like a move), and accept or grieve a change when necessary. “No change happens without loss; no loss happens without some grief.” Above all, remind yourself that it is normal, for you as an HSP, to have these strong reactions to change.
- Here’s a good one: “Sensory processing sensitivity predicts performance in an emotional antisaccade paradigm.” I imagine you scratching your heads about this one. What’s that? A short answer is that it is a measure of being able to pause before acting, in this case pause with your eyes. You are shown a dot, then it moves. You are told either to follow the dot (prosaccade), the natural thing to do, or you are told to look the opposite direction that it moved (antisaccade), an instruction you obey more slowly because you must make an effort. This requires strong “executive” brain functioning. In this study, both dots and faces were used as the objects. HSPs were more “accurate” than others, in that they had a faster-than-average reaction time to the instruction to look the opposite direction. This was only true, however, when instead of dots they were responding to faces with emotional expressions, and especially true when researchers compared their response to neutral versus sad faces. By the way, these results had nothing to do with the mood of the subjects at the time.
Bottom line: You can feel even more confident that you and other HSPs process things, especially social information, more carefully and accurately at a deep level (not just thinking about the task more, but when asked to do it quickly, doing it better automatically). This contrasts with those having schizophrenia, ADHD, or autism, who in other studies were found to have slower reaction times on these tasks.
- The study “Sensory Processing Sensitivity Moderates the Relationships Between Life Skills and Depressive Tendencies in University Students” looked at which life skills (decision making, interpersonal relationships, communication, and emotional coping) were associated with lower depression, and found that for HSPs compared to others, emotional coping was the key skill. (Poor interpersonal relationship skills go with depression in everyone; poor decision-making skills, not surprisingly, with those low in SPS.)
Bottom Line: If you tend to get depressed, focus on your emotional coping skills!
- “Sensory-processing sensitivity and COVID-19 stress in a young population: The mediating role of resilience.” The results are not too surprising. HSPs were being slightly more negatively affected by the pandemic (obviously the circumstances you are in are the main factor, not temperament). However, this was not true if the HSPs had adequate levels of resilience, as measured by a six-item scale with items like “I tend to bounce back quickly after hard times” and “It does not take me long to recover from a stressful event.” This is undoubtedly at least partly the result of resilient HS teens having had more positive parenting, again due to differential susceptibility to good and bad circumstances.
Bottom Line: When asked how HSPs are doing during the pandemic, you can say that a study of teenagers found that on average they were doing about the same as others, maybe a little worse sometimes, but a large number are exhibiting greater resilience than others, probably due to differential susceptibility—that is, they are more affected by this event, true, but also by everything else, including a positive environment at home.
- “The role of sensory processing sensitivity and analytic mind-set in ethical decision-making.” Researchers manipulated “mind set” by giving participants an ethical problem to either think thoroughly through (deliberation mind set) or focus on finding a concrete, practical solution (implementation mind set). Not surprisingly, HSPs performed better in the deliberative mind-set, “allowing them to solve the problem using their natural problem-solving approach.” People who did not have the trait 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.”
Bottom Line: This obviously validates the depth-of-processing aspect of our trait. To me this study also means the idea is getting out there, along with the wonderful advice that in whatever situation, one size does not fit all.
- “Experiences of Adults High in the Personality Trait Sensory Processing Sensitivity: A Qualitative Study.” This study is just what it says: It summarizes in-depth interviews, done by experienced researchers, based on all we know now about the trait, but providing more fine-grained information, suggesting new hypotheses for fostering the well-being if HSPs.
Bottom Line: Could be worth reading.
It’s wonderful to see so much research. If you use Google Scholar, a lot more will come up. But I do not encourage it, as you must read know how to read the details in order to spot any flaws—usually concluding that HSPs are worse off than others in some way without having looked at childhood or current other life stressors. Still, things are coming along well. The more research there is, the more high sensitivity will be discussed in years to come as part of the professional training of teachers, therapists, and doctors. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
It’s one of those amazing synchronicities in my HSW life! Just this evening I finished reading your book The HSP in Love. I was pondering how incredibly fortunate I am to have finally understood so clearly my life as such. Better to understand at 66+ than never to have understood at all!
My former HSM spouse, told me about your book the HSP, last year. If we’d discovered and read it together sooner with a wiser therapist as yourself we may avoided our divorce, a third one for both of us. It explained so much!!
But we’ve discussed it a lot and it’s brought both of us some peace forgiveness and understanding about each other beyond the 14 years we did try our best at loving each other and being there for each other. Thank you so much for your incredibly beautiful words especially as you ended this book about Love. I’m two years now, into healing my heart , literally and figuratively, I know I will be so much clearer about my needs for future love after your teachings. I have also shared your book with other HSP’s.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!!!
I found Dr. Aron’s material in the mid-1990’s after being incorrectly diagnosed Bipolar 2. In the 2000’s, I started learning about the effect of childhood trauma and then later, the effect of trauma on health. I have an ACE score of 8 and many physical and mental health challenges. I will be interested in reading new material here.
Lynne, I too have high ACES scores. I discovered Elaine Aron’s work when I was 70. Wish I had heard about it decades earlier. Really changed my understanding of myself and my life. I find Alane Freund’s(protege of Elaine Aron) on line support to be exceptionally helpful. And she posts often while Elaine Aron is busy with her research and writing.
https://www.areyouhighlysensitive.com/about-alane.
Hello Lynn. I read your comment with interest, as I also experienced childhood trauma that stayed with me for most of my life. Please listen to talks and interviews of Dr Gabor Maté who thoroughly explains, with amazing experience, insight and knowledge as a physician, the wide-spread and deep effects of childhood trauma on our lives as adults. His work has finally helped me to change my life and to find the inner peace and calm I have sought my whole life. Denise
Thank you for this information, Dr. Aron!
And, thank you for ALL the work you’ve done in this field; you have helped me more than I can say.
Six years ago, after I was diagnosed as an HSP, I read your book. I felt so validated! I finally had answers to why I am the way I am.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I wonder if this would help?
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-highly-sensitive-person/201103/the-wound-no-name
I’d love to read “Experiences of Adults High in the Personality Trait Sensory Processing Sensitivity: A Qualitative Study.”
Does anyone have a link?
This is the link through google scholar.
https://scholar.google.com.au/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Experiences+of+Adults+High+in+the+Personality+Trait+Sensory+Processing+Sensitivity%3A+A+Qualitative+Study&btnG=
When you get there look to the right hand side of the blurb and click on the [PDF] line to be taken to the article.
THen you can read it online or download the 17 pages.
Enjoy.
Hi there if you send me your email address, I can forward you a copy of the paper. My email is 120225500@umail.ucc.ie.
I had a wonderful childhood but the challenges in adulthood as a hsp has been the ones that threw me to the ground and still do.
I didn’t know about hsp until a couple of years ago and when I realized it started a complete rollercoster in my life. Both so sad but yet happy.
Dear dr. Aron,
thank you for this post! I’m currently working on my thesis about the HSPs and this article made my day, as I need serious and up to date sources. Sending you many blessings from Czechia (EU)!
I am highly sensitive and suffered depression for most of my 70 years, but I have been listening to interviews and talks by Dr Gabor Maté who explains how fearful experiences and anxiety experienced in early childhood can become traumas if left unmitigated by parents or other caring, attached adults.
For me, this understanding has helped me to reconnect to my childhood traumas, to be able to finally re-experience the emotions of fear, anxiety and pain that I had learned suppress as a very young, vulnerable child. Learning to feel and to actually go through these powerful emotions has allowed me to work through them with self-compassion, to finally find the person I always wanted to be. I am still highly sensitive, but am no longer anxious nor fearful of the world nor of being with others.
I just read an article stating that there has been some recent research about HSPs who have overlapping traits of ADHD. Can you point to and summarize that particular research? From what I read, it was the first such study ever done. It explains my struggles a lot! [69 yo female]
Hi, very interesting work you are doing here. I think I am HSP and my son is as well with ADHD. He scored 99% in inferring information in the 4th grade. We see through the lines, yet are very different. Please share any links to this connection of HSP and ADHD. Your work certainly explains so much of my childhood, adolescence, and adulthood!
Thank You,
Amy
“… there is a bias towards expecting HSPs to have problems…”
The fact is that we DO have ‘problems’ (but they are GOOD problems to have). High sensitivity is a blessing and an asset. But these ‘problems’ do require constant attention and environmental mitigation on our part. The first step is always to identify in one’s self that he or she possesses an HSP physical and emotional/spiritual nature. And if one is new to the HSP concept or is otherwise in the process of such self-discovery, it is not always bad for them to see the ‘problems’ with the HSP nature so they can identify and perhaps be introduced for the first time to this most deep aspect of their (and our) natures.
It is good to readjust any ‘test’ of the HSP nature to remove a negative bias. Instead of ‘problems’… it’s useful to just call these HSP traits or manifestations. These terms are less negative-sounding and more expansive and accurate.
There is a spectrum of HSP nature. Some people are very highly full-HSP, while others have HSP aspects but to a lesser degree. So just as other physical and emotional ways of our being are seen as having a spectrum of degree, so it is with the HSP nature. As we learn about ourselves, we see where we fit on this wide spectrum.
“You might want to work on learning to expect change… to plan how you will deal with a change… that it is normal, for you as an HSP, to have these strong reactions to change.”
Since those of us with a HSP nature must constantly be aware of what is going on both inside of ourselves and around us in our surroundings, we should be well attuned to dealing with changes in our lives. We might find initially these changes more disruptive and unsettling than other people might. But, because we should always be monitoring our internal and external environmental ‘temperatures’ we should be good at quickly sensing change and finding good ways to adapt to it. As ‘sensitives’, we should have an advantage at more quickly locating the best outcome for ourselves with change. If we don’t, we are allowing fear or resistance or something else to stand in our HSP nature’s way and thus block our ability to sense the best paths forward.
“The more research there is, the more high sensitivity will be discussed in years to come as part of the professional training of teachers, therapists, and doctors.”
Many ‘professionals’ today are letting personal bias and business/corporate influence to unduly pollute their studies and findings. If good and useful research is to be done around the Globe on the HSP nature, it should be approached only by professionals who truly allow honest facts and data to be the substance of their work. And most of all, lots of talking with actual people who live the HSP nature in their lives every moment of every day. That’s where the gold mine of good HSP information is always best to be found.
So we’ll said! I agree 💯 %. Thank you for shining a light on us!
I’ve always known I was different. And am so fortunate that at as a child, I knew I had abilities that my family would never understand. Religion in my family left absolutely no room for understanding me as an empath, an HSP. I’ve always felt that I was protected ,by an external force, that helped me to somehow know NOT to mention all the things I could, feel hear and see… which would have assuredly caused strife in our family, and my father to pass judgement, unfair assumptions, about me. I have been seemingly blessed to just know things, knowledge of energy, of souls, of suffering individuals and their physical and emotional pain. I’ve been able to strengthen the abilities I have, which has mixed outcomes. I’m an HSP massage therapist, a healer, an empath first and foremost. Clairvoyant abilities have become a daily occurence. In recent years, I’ve become aware of some psychic tendencies, high intuition levels, an absolute heightened levels of empathic abilities . November 2019, I had a waking premonition that showed itself as a 4 digit number. Ever since then, I have researched so so many topics that include this number, and these topics are undeniably connected with our present. I dont know how or who or what I recieved this premonition from. But this premonition has given me a sense of tremendous purpose, fear, shock, but also hope amd understanding of my own soul in this process. I have experienced what ppl would called paranormal experiences my whole life. I’ve heard voices, felt unseen energies, everywhere I go, every home I’ve ever lived in as well as every piece of land I stand on that has palpable energy, has ALWAYS affected me. But this flash of the number 2514 constantly interrupting my thoughts, suddenly, out of nowhere is a very difficult and different occurrence than the paranormal experiences I’ve had. I’ve been going down the rabbit hole ever since November 2019. This number was given to me as a warning. I love to research, but now feeling absolutely compelled to research all I can regarding this number. Its like a feeling of complete purpose that I can not ignore. I have felt truly and utterly alone in this situation. Even more so than when I was a misunderstood kid. Knowing something so detrimental to the whole world, leaves me feeling exasperated, frustrated and scared. I’m just one girl, not even a politician or a scientist, and wondering WHY I saw this, and why me.. I’m not anything special that could do anything substantial about my premonition besides use my clairvoyance to dig deeper into my research of 2514. Watching your documentary, Sensitive..the untold story, The last phrases u said were for HSPs to reach out, that “we are in good company ” and that we aren’t alone. Hearing your words, I came to realize that I had NEVER been verbally or actually told these very simple words of comfort. I’m 45 and in the middle of this mass awakening of humanity, with growing abilities, and two HSP sons. The premonition only intensifies my overwhelmed emotions. But at the same time, I understand my purpose is related to capabilities I posses. Oh and I’ve been pondering this idea that a certain blood type could have meaning related to HSPs and other abilities. O Negative blood has been speculated to contain
a predispositional characteristic, a trait of clairvoyance, psychic skills, HSP abilities, premonitions. The research I’ve come across opened my eyes to this understanding that Oneg/RH negative cannot be traced back to Africa, which is considered the origin of our species. Only a small percentage of the population have these absences of rh antibodies . Thus, our origins are a mystery to science. I’ve come to believe that this is only one more common factor in certain humans that make them needed, gives them a sense for healing, not to mention we are universal donors and are MADE to be such healers. Healing is literally in our very blood. I’m wondering lately if this is the reason for my premonition, this warning I was receiving. I feel that maybe Oneg individuals need to be warned about making their o neg blood known in a medical situation. I just have a horrible feeling that with all this “purposeful death” , all this loss of ppl, being almost MADE to take a vaccine against their will, gives me an unsettling feeling that those of us that can literally heal others with our own blood, could become dangerous. Somethin tells me that we may even be tracked by the organizations that want to control the health and well being of others. If ppl are being targeted by any entity and are,in fact, being lied to and taken advantage of, why wiuld these organizations want to keep Oneg individuals involved with healing… Thank you so much for talking about the care, the needs, the understanding of empaths and HSPs. Your words have given me feelings of hope, amd promise for our futures as HSPs.
My father died of cancer at age 36 (I was 9). My mother raised my two older siblings and myself alone. She couldn’t hold down a job due to her diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. This made for a very unpredictable childhood as you might imagine. After seeing your documentary and seeing so many similarities, I took your test and scored a 24. Childhood was so bad and I can’t keep any long-term relationships. Can you help me? I’m 63 now and very alone.
I didn’t exactly have a horrible childhood and I used or become highly reactive because my empathy is more in the sense of justice and therefore of indignation than of connection on an affective-intuitive level with others, that is, it expresses itself in a less traditionally recognized way.
Hello. Im 21 and recently came to realize that I am definitely an HSP. This has given me alot of insight on what is really “wrong” with me and I fully internalized many articles on this subject. Conclusion: this is definitely something I am. At 14 I was diagnosed with functional Asperger’s Syndrome, I definitely have ADHD, amd due to circumstances, I self diagnosed myself with Bipolar Disorder II. But this seems to have been an error, as an HSP has to do with emotional reactions and insight. The Bipolar symptoms come from environmental change. It is true; I absolutely detest sudden and macroscopical change, as it changes my deepest internal moods and I have to adjust many behavioral patterns to achieve the same level of internal balance. (Though, to be completely honest, I have never truly felt at ease except for the time I remember as a toddler.) Being highly sensitive definitely impacts my emotional wellbeing unfavourably, but greatly bears fruit in excelling my creativity and insight. Being an HSP is certainly beneficial to the conception (and comprehension) of magnificent ideas with many interchanging axioms. Ultimately, it inspires creativity and intellect.
I’m an Occupational Therapist working with students in San Diego Public Schools. I found out about your work from a colleague and have found it amazing! I really love that you make the distinction as a temperament/personality trait and not a disorder. As a school OT and HSP, I’m pretty bombarded with “sensory tools for grounding” my students, which are valid but there’s the piece of me that needs grounding everyday, multiple times per day with compassion care for my students and myself. I couldn’t figure out why I needed more what DOES outlines so well. I’ve now opened my own business coaching College Students through the non-academic components of college (self-care, time engagement, etc). My ideal clients are college-aged HSPs. Thank you for your work. It’s allowed me to learn how to think about my life, environment and redesign it to serve me vs surviving in a traditional role.
Your thoughts/research on how military service changes a HSP. I find, starting with “self-test” there are many traits I have suppressed or “over-come”. The behaviors prized by the military and drilled out of a person clearly reduce selected sensitivities.
I read your comments. Heart wrenching. The condition is so insidious.
I still feel that many of us are borderlines. My enlightenment will always be nicknamed the airport incident. Disclaimer: I am a man / boy / guy. The coping/survival skills I have had to learn are just beyond words. For myself, it was trauma, being abused by women both physically and verbally as a child. Oh but I’ve loved, its in the heart, but also the head, but I’m to needy but also fiercely independent, always afraid of abandonment, and pushing them away, eventually you just stay alone and feel safer.
Buddha levels of love are as follows.
1. Possessive – Jealousy, people think they own the other person?
2. Codependent – we all know about this, the addiction to control or be controlled
3. Romantic – this is where we require to be treated a certain way – put on a pedestal of sorts.
4. Subjective – getting better – this is loving everything around you, many people, love as they are, etc.
5. Become love – as long as we live in acquisitive society you cannot achieve this level.
Sadly, I’m emotionally stuck at about 3 years old, I almost cried the other day when my FP at work started talking to me again, but she’s not my FP anymore, she scared me way to much.
I don’t feel as bad about sticking up for myself anymore, although it gives me great anxiety to do so.
I really wish I could get some help with dealing with what I call incidents, benzos..
Can you direct me to more information on the differences on sensory processing sensitivity and sensory processing disorder? Is it possible to have or be both?
It was the 28th day of the 6th month of the year 2022, approaching my 40th trip around our savior, that I discover your research. What a relief. This means I haven’t suffered some additional trauma from isolation! Thank you, Dr. Aron, I was under so much anxiety. Now I’m inspired!
Dr Aron, can I please use your research to help me save my state? The stress of watching our slow extinction is literally shortening my life.
Dr. Aron, in “The Highly Sensitive Person” you discuss the use of Prozac (or other SSRIs) by some HSPs to manage their sensitivity and/or stress-related disorders arising from that sensitivity. Is there any available or ongoing research into the use of NDRI medications by HSPs?
I began using bupropion a few years ago to complement bright light treatment for winter SAD, and within a few days I experienced totally unexpected and astonishing relief from my most challenging sensitivities: daily overstimulation of all kinds (especially social), cognitive overload, muscle tension, pain sensitivity … the list goes on. It felt like lifting an invisible burden I’d been carrying my whole life but had never been able to quantify. I’ve always known on some level that I was processing more than the people around me, but I didn’t realize just how substantial the burden of overstimulation was until it lifted and I could (quite literally) breathe deeply for the first time in years (I’m in my 30s). Most intriguing has been that bupropion hasn’t changed my basic HSP personality at all. Rather, it seems to round out the sharpest edges and enhance executive functioning, helping me to more skillfully manage physical/emotional reactivity and embrace the intuitive, creative aspects of the trait.
I noticed that a baby with HSP characteristics holds their fingers apart, uses them as separate fingers much earlier than non-HSP babies who seem to use their hands like mittens, one thumb and fingers as one thing a group that moves together not independently. I then noticed it in pictures of me as a young child (I have HSP trait) I thought about this and realized the made sense, the brain map for hands is huge when the brain’s view of the body is drawn, so it makes sense that the more extensive depth of processing by a body and brain with HSP trait would get their sooner, have “gloves” instead of “mittens” for hands much sooner in life. Have any of you seen this in baby/ toddler pictures of yourself or others?