The Highly Sensitive Person: A Brief Summary

If you’re curious about HSP or what it means to be a Highly Sensitive Person, here’s a very brief summary of some of the research. There’s a huge amount of information and research but here’s a summary in less than 1000 words. 

Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) is the official term for the Highly Sensitive Person, which is a trait found in 20-30% of the population, characterised by deep information processing, increased emotional reactivity, ease of overstimulation, and heightened awareness of subtle environmental changes. The Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) scale developed by Dr Elaine Aron and Arthur Aron in 1997 is used to identify high sensitivity, and it was created from a series of in-depth qualitative interviews with 39 adults. The HSP scale was further validated and tested on a broader sample, including 604 undergraduate psychology students and 301 individuals. Since then, hundreds of academic and peer-reviewed studies have been carried out to validate the existence of this unique trait.

Research indicates that high sensitivity has neurobiological roots and is moderately heritable. HSP falls under the broader concept of Environmental Sensitivity, which Michael Pleuss describes as being related to how responsive we are to various environmental stimuli. For highly sensitive individuals, this can include physical factors like food and caffeine, social factors like childhood experiences or people’s moods, and internal stimuli like thoughts and feelings. Biological sensitivity to context, as researched by Bruce Ellis and Thomas Boyce, has a similar hypothesis, but it relates more to the physiological responses one has to the environment. It’s important to note that being Highly Sensitive is not only about sensory sensitivities and the expression of high sensitivity is understood to be a combination of both nature and nurture. From a psycho-spiritual and transpersonal lens, it is also my perspective that each of us has a unique soul purpose and a reason behind why we are born into this world with the level of sensitivity that we have. This purpose, along with our lived experiences, will determine how our sensitivity is expressed throughout life. 

Differential Susceptibility

More recent research by Francesca Lionetti shows us that SPS exists on a continuum, with people classified into three groups: 31% highly sensitive, 40% moderately sensitive, and 29% less sensitive. While sensitivity has previously been seen as a vulnerability, it's now understood from the research that HSP experience both negative and positive stimuli more intensely—a concept known as differential susceptibility. This suggests that SPS has a genetic basis and plays a role in species survival by heightening awareness of threats and opportunities.

Vantage Sensitivity

Contrary to common myths, SPS is not synonymous with anxiety or fragility, nor is it a disorder. While highly sensitive people who face adverse childhood experiences may be at higher risk for mental health issues, those who experience nurturing environments often excel due to what’s known as vantage sensitivity. For example, highly sensitive children with supportive upbringings tend to thrive more than their less sensitive peers.

Interestingly, a study by Michael Pluess shows how highly sensitive adolescent girls have shown better responses to cognitive-behavioural programs aimed at reducing depression. However, the long-term benefits of such interventions remain to be fully explored, particularly regarding their impact on HSP being able to find meaning, values, and life purpose—key factors in the well-being and psycho-spiritual growth of highly sensitive individuals.

Overall, how SPS manifests in a person depends significantly on their environmental conditions, especially during childhood. HSPs process information deeply, and react more strongly to stimuli, and research by Bianca Avecedao shows how HSPs often exhibit higher empathy due to greater activation in the brain's mirror neuron system. They are also more affected by other people’s emotions and moods and are attuned to subtle changes in their nervous systems.

Depth of processing

Highly Sensitive People tend to be preoccupied with big existential questions from a young age. They often feel different from their peers and are often described as ‘old souls’ because of their awareness and quality of presence, which relates to their depth of processing and sensitivity to subtleties - two of the main components of high sensitivity. Research shows us that highly sensitive people process information on a deeper level than others. This shouldn’t be confused with slow processing, but it’s a tendency to pause and check before responding and a depth of processing which enables the HSP to consider a variety of possibilities and perspectives in a situation - very much correlated with high levels of creativity and thinking outside of the box.

Is there a Purpose?

Beyond the scientific understanding, I am interested in how the trait of high sensitivity also plays a role in broader, collective issues. As mentioned, Highly Sensitive People possess a unique ability to perceive threats and opportunities, potentially offering HSP insights into the patterns or themes emerging around global challenges like environmental destruction. The innate sensitivity may also enable us to connect with spiritual insights, other ways of knowing and indigenous wisdom; knowledge that is often overlooked in modern society. The struggles faced by many HSPs often stem from a profound sense of disconnection from something greater and sacred, and many of us are called to come back into connection with a more ‘soulful life’ and connect with the sacred, transpersonal dimensions of our being. It’s my understanding that many HSPs are wounded healers, and because of their sensitivity to struggles and strengths, they are more likely to experience post-traumatic growth and psycho-spiritual emergence or be called into becoming healers for others because of their struggles in life. 

In my work with HSPs, I am driven to explore the lived experiences of Highly Sensitive People (HSPs). This is so crucial for connecting with what gives us a deeper sense of meaning and purpose on this planet. Exploring our lived experiences and coming together in a community to share and unpack these shared ways of being and experiencing gives us a richer understanding of our strengths and challenges. Tapping into our intuitive and empathetic abilities can also empower us to take action in terms of addressing global issues, fostering a more compassionate and interconnected society. Embracing our stories as HSPs not only validates our experiences but enables us to come together and cultivate our collective wisdom.

About the Author

Jules De Vitto has a BSc in Psychology, MA in Education and MSc in Transpersonal Psychology, Consciousness and Spirituality and is an accredited transpersonal coach, trainer and experienced educator. She is the founder of the Highly Sensitive Human Academy - a central hub that offers courses, coaching, articles and a podcast for Highly Sensitive People. She helps those who identify with the traits of high sensitivity to navigate emotional overwhelm, step into their authentic power and align with their true purpose in life.

She is a published author and wrote one of a series of books on Resilience, Navigating Loss in a time of Crisis. Her research has also been published in the Transpersonal Coaching Psychology Journal and Journal of Consciousness, Spirituality, and Transpersonal Psychology.

In addition to her academic and coaching pursuits, Jules has spent years engaging in deep transformative healing work. She is a Reiki Master and Teacher and has completed Michael Harner’s Shamanic Practitioner Training through the Foundation of Shamanic Studies and a Grief Ritual Leadership Training with Francis Weller.

Jules is passionate about creating community for Highly Sensitive People and embracing the full spectrum of our emotional and sensory capacities rather than trying to ‘fix’ ourselves. Deepening the connection to our sensitivity enables us to open our hearts and form better relationships with ourselves, others and the world.

As an expert in the field of high sensitivity, her writing has been featured in SAND and Highly Sensitive Refuge and she has been invited to speak on the Sensitive SEO Podcast, Quiet and Strong Podcast and the Healthy Sensitive Podcast.