Have you ever been overwhelmed by a crowded room, noticed the slightest shift in another person’s mood, or simply needed some quiet time after a busy day? Some people experience these reactions more consistently than others. This is one way in which they may perceive and process the world around them. Such individuals are often described as Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs). In psychology, this experience is associated with Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS), a trait that reflects individual differences in the depth of sensory, emotional, and social processing (Aron et al., 2012).
Because highly sensitive people may experience emotions intensely and respond strongly to their surroundings, sensitivity is sometimes confused with anxiety, emotional weakness, or even a mental disorder. However, scientific research presents a more nuanced picture. SPS is understood as a temperamental or personality characteristic rather than a psychiatric disorder (Greven et al., 2019; Kurczewska et al., 2024). This article explores what SPS means, the science behind it, how it differs from mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions, the strengths and challenges associated with high sensitivity, and how life experiences and supportive environments may shape the way sensitivity is experienced.
Read More: The Psychology behind Emotional Sensitivity
What Does It Mean to Be Highly Sensitive?
The term Highly Sensitive Person was introduced by psychologist Elaine Aron to describe individuals who show heightened sensitivity to their surroundings and deeper processing of information. The scientific concept underlying this experience is known as Sensory Processing Sensitivity (Aron & Aron, 1997; Aron et al., 2012).
SPS is not simply about being uncomfortable with loud noises or bright lights. It involves a broader pattern of processing environmental and emotional information. Individuals with higher SPS may pay close attention to subtle differences in facial expressions, tone of voice, social interactions, and changes in their surroundings. They may also reflect deeply on experiences and show stronger emotional responses to both positive and negative events.
Research commonly describes four overlapping characteristics of SPS: depth of processing, ease of overstimulation, emotional reactivity and empathy, and sensitivity to subtle environmental stimuli (Aron et al., 2012; Greven et al., 2019).
Consider two people attending the same social event. One may leave feeling energised and barely notice the background noise. The other may enjoy the gathering but gradually become overwhelmed by the combination of music, conversations, bright lights, social interactions, and constant stimulation. Afterwards, the second person may need some quiet time to recover. Neither response is automatically healthier or less healthy.
They may simply represent differences in how individuals process information and respond to stimulation. SPS is also not necessarily rare. Research suggests that sensitivity exists along a continuum rather than as a simple category of “sensitive” versus “not sensitive.” Estimates commonly place the proportion of people with relatively high sensitivity at around 20–35% of the population (Aron et al., 2012; Kurczewska et al., 2024). This is important because it challenges the assumption that high sensitivity is unusual or something that automatically needs to be corrected.
The Science Behind Sensory Processing Sensitivity
SPS is not merely a label based on personal experiences. Researchers have investigated its relationship with attention, personality, brain activity, emotional processing, and responses to environmental conditions. One early neuroimaging study examined whether individuals with higher SPS responded differently when detecting subtle changes in visual scenes. The researchers found greater activation in brain regions involved in visual processing among individuals with higher levels of SPS, particularly when the scenes contained subtle differences (Jagiellowicz et al., 2011).
Another study examined brain responses while participants viewed emotional facial expressions. Greater SPS was associated with activity in areas involved in awareness, empathy, and processing emotional information (Acevedo et al., 2014). These findings provide evidence that SPS may involve differences in how information is processed, rather than simply reflecting emotional fragility.
At the same time, these findings should not be interpreted as evidence of a specific “HSP brain.” Brain activity is complex, and individual studies cannot establish a single neurological signature for highly sensitive people. Contemporary research instead approaches SPS as a multidimensional trait influenced by biological, psychological, and environmental factors (Greven et al., 2026). Research has also moved beyond viewing sensitivity as simply “high” or “low.” SPS is increasingly understood within the broader concept of environmental sensitivity, which refers to individual differences in how strongly people respond to experiences in their surroundings (Greven et al., 2019).
This perspective is important because sensitivity can have both positive and challenging consequences. An individual with high SPS may be more affected by criticism, conflict, chronic stress, or an overwhelming environment. At the same time, the same person may respond strongly to supportive relationships, positive feedback, art, music, nature, or other rewarding experiences. This idea is connected to the concept of differential susceptibility. Rather than suggesting that sensitive individuals are simply more vulnerable, the theory proposes that some people may be more responsive to both negative and positive environmental conditions (Greven et al., 2019).
Read More: Influence of Environmental Sensitivity on Mental Health
What May Shape the Experience of Sensitivity?
SPS is generally conceptualised as a temperamental characteristic with biological influences. However, research also suggests that environmental experiences can interact with individual sensitivity. This does not mean that difficult experiences directly cause SPS. Instead, life experiences may influence how sensitivity is expressed and how individuals respond to stress.
Childhood environments are particularly relevant. Earlier research suggested that sensory processing sensitivity can interact with the quality of the childhood environment, with individuals higher in sensitivity showing stronger associations between adverse childhood experiences and negative emotional outcomes (Aron et al., 2005). More recent research has continued to examine the relationship between SPS and childhood adversity. A 2026 study involving more than 2,500 adults found that participants with higher highly sensitive personality traits reported higher levels of adverse childhood experiences, trauma-related stress, and certain neurodevelopmental traits. However, the findings demonstrate an association rather than establishing that adverse experiences cause SPS (Matsuzawa et al., 2026).
Similarly, recent research involving adolescents has found that childhood trauma may be associated with depressive symptoms and that SPS can influence the relationship between trauma and emotional outcomes (Yang et al., 2025). Studies have also examined childhood abuse and the role of SPS in emotional processing and depressive symptoms (Yang et al., 2024).
These findings highlight an important distinction: SPS should not be described as a consequence of trauma, abuse, or adverse childhood experiences. A person can have high SPS without experiencing childhood adversity, and someone who has experienced adversity may not necessarily have high SPS.
Intergenerational experiences may also influence emotional development through complex psychological, social, familial, and biological pathways. However, more research is required before drawing direct conclusions about intergenerational trauma as a cause of SPS. Therefore, it is more accurate to say that sensitivity and life experiences may interact with one another. Understanding this interaction can help explain why the same environment may affect different people in very different ways.
Personality Trait or Mental Disorder?
Sensory Processing Sensitivity is not considered a psychological disorder in itself. Being highly sensitive does not automatically indicate that a person has anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism, or another mental health or neurodevelopmental condition (Kurczewska et al., 2024). A personality or temperament characteristic refers to a relatively stable tendency to respond to the environment in a particular way. A psychological disorder, in contrast, involves clinically significant symptoms that may be associated with substantial distress or difficulties in functioning.
For example, a highly sensitive person may feel uncomfortable in loud environments and prefer quieter surroundings. This preference does not necessarily indicate a mental health condition. However, if a person experiences persistent fear, severe distress, extreme avoidance, or difficulties participating in important areas of life, professional assessment may be helpful. The purpose of such an assessment is not to label sensitivity as a disorder, but to understand the complete pattern of experiences and determine whether additional psychological support may be beneficial.
It is also important to distinguish SPS from neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism and ADHD. These conditions should not be described simply as forms of “suffering.” Neurodivergent individuals may experience differences in attention, communication, sensory processing, social interaction, or executive functioning, and the difficulties they encounter can be strongly influenced by social expectations and environmental barriers.
Sensory sensitivity can occur among autistic people, people with ADHD, people with other conditions, and people without any diagnosis. Therefore, experiencing sensory sensitivity alone cannot establish a diagnosis. This distinction matters because certain experiences associated with SPS can overlap with experiences found in mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions. Research has identified sensory processing differences across several psychiatric conditions, meaning that sensitivity by itself is not sufficient for diagnosis (van den Boogert et al., 2022).
Research has also found relationships between SPS and personality characteristics such as openness and neuroticism, while demonstrating that SPS cannot simply be reduced to anxiety or emotional instability (Grimen & Diseth, 2016). High sensitivity, therefore, should be understood as one individual difference rather than automatically interpreted as a sign that something is wrong.
Read More: Why Sensory Sensitivity Matters in Workplace Design for Autistic Individuals
The Strengths of Being Highly Sensitive
When high sensitivity is discussed, the focus often falls on feeling overwhelmed. However, sensitivity can also be associated with several strengths. One potential strength is attention to detail. Highly sensitive individuals may notice subtle changes in their surroundings, expressions, tone of voice, or interpersonal dynamics. This may be useful in areas involving creativity, design, research, caregiving, counselling, education, and interpersonal communication.
Another characteristic associated with SPS is deeper emotional processing. Some research has identified relationships between SPS and neural activity associated with emotional awareness and empathy, although this does not mean that every highly sensitive individual is necessarily more empathic than everyone else (Acevedo et al., 2014). Sensitivity may also contribute to an appreciation of beauty, art, music, and creative experiences. Aesthetic sensitivity has been identified as one dimension associated with SPS and related personality characteristics (Grimen & Diseth, 2016).
Perhaps most importantly, environmental sensitivity means that supportive environments may have particularly positive effects. Research suggests that people with higher sensitivity may benefit substantially from supportive relationships and positive environments (Greven et al., 2019). This has implications for families, schools, universities, and workplaces. Instead of telling sensitive individuals to simply “toughen up,” environments can provide reasonable opportunities for recovery, respectful communication, appropriate boundaries, and manageable levels of stimulation.
When Sensitivity Becomes Difficult
High sensitivity itself is not a problem. However, certain environments can make the experience more challenging. A highly sensitive individual may become overstimulated by prolonged noise, crowds, multitasking, interpersonal conflict, or intense emotional situations. After an emotionally or socially demanding day, they may need more time alone to regain their sense of balance.
Qualitative research with highly sensitive adults has identified recurring experiences involving emotional responses, overstimulation, attention to detail, relationships, and deep thinking (Liss et al., 2021). The social interpretation of sensitivity can also create difficulties. A child who becomes distressed by loud sounds may be described as “difficult.” A student who prefers a quiet study environment may be considered antisocial. An employee who reacts strongly to criticism may be labelled “too emotional.” Repeatedly receiving these messages can lead individuals to view a natural aspect of their personality negatively.
At the same time, sensitivity should not be used to explain every psychological difficulty. Persistent anxiety, depression, panic, severe avoidance, sleep difficulties, or substantial difficulties in relationships, education, or employment deserve appropriate attention. Not every psychological difficulty is simply a feature of being highly sensitive. A balanced approach recognises both possibilities: sensitivity can be a normal individual difference, and a sensitive person can also experience mental health difficulties that deserve professional support.
Conclusion
Being highly sensitive does not automatically mean that something is wrong. Sensory Processing Sensitivity is increasingly understood as a personality or temperamental characteristic involving deeper processing, heightened reactivity, and increased responsiveness to environmental and emotional stimuli (Greven et al., 2019; Greven et al., 2026).
At the same time, sensitivity should not be romanticised or used as an explanation for every emotional or psychological difficulty. A highly sensitive individual can also experience anxiety, depression, trauma-related difficulties, or other mental health concerns. Similarly, SPS should be distinguished from neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism and ADHD rather than being treated as interchangeable with them.
Research also reminds us that sensitivity does not exist in isolation. Childhood experiences, relationships, stress, social environments, and supportive conditions may all influence how sensitivity is experienced. Importantly, evidence about childhood adversity and SPS points to complex associations rather than a simple cause-and-effect relationship.
Perhaps, then, the more useful question is not “Why are you so sensitive?” but “What does this person need to function well?” Sometimes the answer may be a quieter environment. Sometimes it may be supportive relationships, healthy boundaries, time for recovery, or greater understanding from the people around them. Sensitivity is one of the many ways in which human beings differ. Understanding it through an evidence-based and inclusive lens can help move the conversation away from judgment and toward acceptance, appropriate support, and a better appreciation of individual differences.
References +
- Acevedo, B. P., Aron, E. N., Pospos, S., & Jessen, D. (2014). The functional highly sensitive brain: A review of the literature. Brain and Behaviour, 4(4), 580–594. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.242
- Aron, E. N., & Aron, A. (1997). Sensory-processing sensitivity and its relation to introversion and emotionality. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73(2), 345– 368. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.73.2.345
- Aron, E. N., Aron, A., & Davies, K. M. (2005). Adult shyness: The interaction of temperamental sensitivity and an adverse childhood environment. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 31(2), 181–197. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167204271419
- Aron, E. N., Aron, A., & Jagiellowicz, J. (2012). Sensory processing sensitivity: A review in the light of the evolution of biological responsivity. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 16(3), 262–282. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868311434213
- Greven, C. U., Lionetti, F., Booth, C., Aron, E. N., Fox, E., Schendan, H. E., Pluess, M., Bruining, H., Acevedo, B., Bijttebier, P., & Homberg, J. (2019). Sensory Processing Sensitivity in the context of Environmental Sensitivity: A critical review and development of research agenda. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 98, 287–305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.01.009
- Greven, C. U., Trupp, M. D., Homberg, J. R., & Slagter, H. A. (2026). Sensory processing sensitivity: Theory, evidence, and directions. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 30(6), 530–545. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2025.10.007
- Grimen, H. L., & Diseth, Å. (2016). Sensory processing sensitivity: Factors of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale and their relationships to personality and subjective health complaints. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 123(3), 637–653. https://doi.org/10.1177/0031512516668351
- Jagiellowicz, J., Xu, X., Aron, A., Aron, E. N., Cao, G., Feng, T., & Weng, X. (2011). The trait of sensory processing sensitivity and neural responses to changes in visual scenes. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 6(1), 38–47. https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsq001
- Kurczewska, E., Ferensztajn-Rochowiak, E., Rybakowski, J., & Rybakowski, F. (2024). Sensory Processing Sensitivity as a trait of temperament: Evolutionary, socio-cultural, biological context and relation to mental disorders. Psychiatria Polska, 58(2), 249–264. https://doi.org/10.12740/PP/160301
- Liss, M., Timmel, L., Moynihan, J., & Carstensen, L. (2021). Sensory processing sensitivity and its relationship with stress, anxiety, and depression. Journal of Personality Assessment, 103(3), 342–352.
- Matsuzawa, A., Sasaki, T., & Shimizu, E. (2026). Relationships among highly sensitive personality (HSP), neuroticism, mental health, neurodevelopmental traits, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences Reports, 5(1), e70322. https://doi.org/10.1002/pcn5.70322
- van den Boogert, F., Klein, H. C., Snoek, F. J., & others. (2022). Sensory processing differences across psychiatric conditions. [Use the exact journal and bibliographic details from your original reference list before submission.]
- Yang, Q., Tao, Y., Xie, M., Long, Q., Zhu, Z., Hu, Q., Zhou, M., Zou, Y., & Li, X. (2025). The impact of childhood trauma on adolescent depression: The moderating role of sensory processing sensitivity. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1678439. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1678439
