Highly sensitive people (HSP)

According to research, roughly 1 in 5 people has this trait. I say “trait” because high sensitivity is neither a psychological disorder nor an illness, but a temperament trait. Some researchers, such as Elaine Aron, suggest it may make evolutionary sense, as a more observant and cautious survival strategy. Research suggests it’s an innate characteristic with a significant hereditary component, so the child is born with it and it stays with them for the rest of their life.

So what exactly is high sensitivity? What sets these people apart from everyone else? People with this trait are characterised by a nervous system that processes information more deeply, which helps them perceive their surroundings in greater detail than others. They pick up stimuli and details on another level, which makes them react more strongly to them (with both advantages and disadvantages).

Highly sensitive people (HSPs) share these four characteristics:

1. They process information at a deeper level, so they tend to notice things the rest of us miss.
2. They tend to become overstimulated because they take in more information.
3. They respond very intensely to emotional stimuli and have a very high capacity for empathy.
4. Their high level of sensory sensitivity lets them pick up subtle details of reality that go unnoticed by others.

In children, certain behaviours can help us spot whether they have this trait, for example:

• They tend to be rather solitary.
• They’re very creative and sensitive to the arts.
• They tend to be quite fearful.
• They show great sensitivity and empathy.
• Many are introverted and mix with few other children (though not all: according to Aron, around 30% of HSPs are extraverts).

Although we’ve said it’s a trait and not a disorder, it’s important to identify it early so it isn’t mistaken for other disorders, causing the child problems that could make life harder for them. Here are some possible mix-ups to watch out for.

When they’re solitary and very sensitive, a highly sensitive child can be mistaken for a child with Asperger’s syndrome or autism. However, highly sensitive children express their emotions easily and, as I’ve said, show a great capacity for empathy.

It’s true that a highly sensitive child may have attention difficulties, but this happens when they’re overloaded with stimuli, because of how strongly they react to them. When there’s no overload, the child pays attention perfectly well. That’s why we need to be careful not to confuse it with attention deficit disorder (ADHD).

High sensitivity isn’t officially considered part of psychopathology, which is why you won’t find it in the DSM-5, the diagnostic manual of mental disorders. This is precisely because it’s considered a characteristic or trait, not a disorder. Even so, you’ll find many studies over the last 30 years, above all by the pioneer in this field, Elaine Aron. On her website, devoted entirely to high sensitivity, you’ll find the most up-to-date information on the subject.

If you read Spanish, there’s also the Spanish Association of Highly Sensitive People, which offers a range of information, including a test to detect signs of high sensitivity.