Characteristics of Highly Sensitive People

The HSP Can Be Introverted, Socially Aware, and Responsive to Others

Aug 11, 2007

Characteristics of highly sensitive people are similar to introverted personality types. Like introverts, highly sensitive people are quickly drained and need time alone.

Certain characteristics of highly sensitive people set them apart from people with "normal" sensitivities.

For instance, if people commonly describe you as "oversensitive", a "scaredy-cat" or "inhibited" you may be a highly sensitive person. If you startle easily, make it a point to avoid violent movies or tv shows, and tend to be extremely sensitive to pain you may be a highly sensitive person. If other people's moods affect you and you're shaken by upsetting or overwhelming situations, then maybe you're a highly sensitive person.

Being highly sensitive isn't bad, good, unhealthy, or healthy: it's just one way of being in the world. And the more you know about highly sensitive people, the better you'll adjust to the people and situations around you.

The Highly Sensitive Person

In The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You, Dr. Elaine Aron offers a detailed description of the characteristics of highly sensitive people. Whether you work with someone who is supersensitive or you think you yourself are highly sensitive or "oversensitive", knowing about those personality traits can provide insight into daily life and interactions. Knowing a little about highly sensitive people can help you deal with them better because you understand how they feel.

Dr. Aron clearly points out that highly sensitive people aren't to be confused with introverted, inhibited, or shy people (though similarities exist). Highly sensitive people have a more sensitive nervous system – it's a physiological as well as a psychological condition. Basically, highly sensitive people are more susceptible to external stimulation from sights, sounds, and even vibrations. Introverts may not be as sensitive.

Most highly sensitive people are:

Physical characteristics of highly sensitive people:

Highly sensitive people are deeply affected by lights, strange odors, clutter, and loud noises. They startle easily and take longer to "come down" from long days, conflicts with friends or family, or stressful days at work. Highly sensitive people can't tolerate as much as other people can. These personality traits are different than the characteristics of introverts.

Personality Traits of Highly Sensitive People

Highly sensitive people are able read the moods of their friends and family quicker than "regular people." According to Dr Elaine Aron in The Highly Sensitive Person they can even sense the personality of the person who's arranged the flowers!

Highly sensitive people are better at spotting errors – and better at avoiding them, too.

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The copyright of the article Characteristics of Highly Sensitive People in Psychology is owned by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen. Permission to republish Characteristics of Highly Sensitive People in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Jan 24, 2009 12:18 AM

Guest :

I don't agree with the part about able to do things with speed and accuracy well at all. That actually goes against most of what I personally know about highly sensitive people, including myself.

Feb 15, 2009 10:15 AM

Guest :

Well, I'd say I am a Highly Sensitive person, but most of the time, I TRY to respond to things in an extroverted manner.

Feb 28, 2009 3:26 PM

Guest :

im not so sure about HSP being able to sense the moods of others quicker thsn other people..

Mar 30, 2009 10:25 AM

Guest :

I agreed with all. External stimili affects me a great deal. And I too act like an extrovert but re-charge like an introvert, something that has been confusing in relationships.

May 14, 2009 9:59 AM

Guest :

As both a HSP and an introvert, I find it hard to disagree with most of the things written here. Re: speed and accuracy, I am definitely more accurate than fast, but can work quickly if I have practiced a given task. Outwardly, it is pretty easy to notice my introversion, but my sensitivity is not something that most people would realise until spending some time getting to know me more intimately.

I can intuit the difference between the two traits and can only say that having both of them can sometimes make day to day living a chore as much as it can make leisure time and time spent with understanding people and friends heavenly.

Jun 3, 2009 6:53 PM

Guest :

i am highly sensitive and i agree with almost all of it,especially with sensing people personality.i do sense people perosnalilty just by listen to their voice.how can i sense people personality? never know why.And i still wonder why can i sense people personality!