According to various research, there are at least 8 types of highly sensitive people, which are categorized according to the sensory experience that predominates in each individual. Highly sensitive people, also known as HSPs, have the main characteristic that they experience everyday situations with greater intensity than ordinary people.
Do you think you are a highly sensitive person? Do you know someone who you think is? So that you can identify the types of highly sensitive people and their characteristics, in this Psychology-Online article, we will give you all the information you need. That way, you will be able to know if any of these types correspond to you or someone around you.
What it means to be a highly sensitive person
A highly sensitive person is someone who has a unique ability to process sensory and emotional information from their environment with great intensity and depth. That is, he perceives the situations and feelings of others more intensely and deeply, which allows him, among other things, to have great empathy and understanding of the needs and emotions of the people around him.
From a psychological point of view, the medical term “PAS” was first coined in 1996 by American psychologist and researcher Elaine Aron, who is herself an HSP or PAS person. PAS people are often very detail-conscious, noticing nuances and subtleties that others may miss.
Additionally, they are very perceptive people and can easily become overwhelmed in situations that involve a lot of sensory stimulation, such as places with a lot of movement because their central nervous system is very sensitive. However, this does not mean that it is a condition, much less a pathology, but rather that each individual is different and unique in their way of perceiving emotions and stimuli.
Characteristics of PAS people
These are the main characteristics of highly sensitive people, regardless of their type:
- They have deep perception and a unique ability to perceive sensory and emotional information from their environment in a deep and intense way.
- Their empathy is sincere and they can understand the emotions of others, allowing them to connect with people authentically and deeply.
- They experience great emotional sensitivity, so they are very aware of their own emotions and can be very sensitive to the emotions of others.
- They tend to have great intuition and can instinctively sense what is right and what is not.
- They are very perceptive to sensory stimuli such as sounds, lights, smells, tastes, textures, and can feel overwhelmed in noisy environments, with many people or visual stimulation.
In addition, they are also very creative and can have a great ability to find innovative solutions to problems. Next, we will explain each of the types of highly sensitive people and how they are identified, taking into account the classification developed by Dr. Elaine Aron, author of the book “The Highly Sensitive Person.” In the following article you will find more information about the.
Empathic people
This is the best known type of highly sensitive people because they are individuals who They are very empathetic with others and they identify in an exceptional way with the emotional states and moods of those around them.
These types of HSP people are very sensitive to images and facial expressions, since their amygdala is more sensitive to external activities.
orchid children
Orchid children are those who show greater biological and psychological sensitivity to stress factors and emotions. These children are more likely to develop mental and physical health problems, such as anxiety, depression, behavioral problems, sleep disorders, and chronic illnesses.
However, if they develop in a suitable environment, they can be people with great qualities and abilities that benefit their environment.
Sensitive to sensory stimulation
People who are sensitive to sensory stimulation feel overwhelmed by sensory stimulation, such as loud noises, strong smells or bright lights. These types of people may prefer quiet environments and have a low tolerance for sensory stimulation.
In addition, their mental processes are deeper, so they tend to experience pain, pleasure, passion, and sensory stimuli with great depth.
Defensive sensory
These people may have greater sensitivity to stimuli such as noise, bright lights, textures, strong smells, crowds, among others. Likewise, they may react with discomfort, pain, anxiety or even sensory overload in situations that involve these stimuli.
Defensive sensory people also experience a great discomfort or discomfort in noisy environments, with a lot of visual stimulation, in places with many people, with bright lights or extreme temperatures. They may also have great difficulty adjusting to sudden changes in their environment or daily routine.
Thin boundary PAS
A highly sensitive person with a thin limit is someone who has a very high emotional sensitivity and at the same time, presents characteristics of borderline reality disorderd with what fantasy or dreams are, so it is very difficult for him to make that differentiation.
Highly sensitive fantasy people
This is one of the most complicated types of PAS because can be confused with a mental disorder due to the characteristics. For example, they are people who live in a fantasy world, they may have imaginary friends or even idealize scenarios that are not real.
excitable PAS
They are highly sensitive people who are easily overwhelmed by their own emotions and the emotions of others. They tend to be very aware of their feelings and They may feel anxious or stressed in intense emotional situations.
People highly sensitive to electricity
Lastly, this type of highly sensitive person they are uncomfortable with bright lights and They avoid all types of electrical storms. In addition, they often experience psychological episodes and react intensely to stress and pressure. They can be very perfectionistic and self-demanding, and may feel overwhelmed by the number of tasks and responsibilities they have.
It’s important to put attention on These categories are not exclusive. and that a highly sensitive person can identify with several of these types. Additionally, each person is unique, so you may not identify with any of these categories.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Aron, E. (1996). The Highly Sensitive Person. Broadway Books.
- de Beijl, K. Z. (2016). Highly Sensitive People: Find out if you are and learn to manage day-to-day life in your relationships, work, with your children… The Sphere of Books.
- Pardo, R. (2018). Highly sensitive people. Desclée de Brouwer Publishing House.