Talk:Highly sensitive person
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[edit] Original research?
This subject seems to me as an original research I have barely found any other references on the Web apart from the Author Aron Elain herself ? so does it really belong here ? as WP is to ban original research ? --Khalid hassani 12:39, 20 February 2006 (UTC)
- No, it is not original research, just ongoing research. However, the term HSP is relatively new. Pavlov's work on conditioning to pain and extreme stimuli found a broad range of sensitivity with a few clusters. Jung and contemporaries used Pavlov's work when differentiating between introverted and extroverted cognitive types (not personality types). As the introverted and extroverted cognitive types have become polluted with the introverted and extroverted personality type terms used in popular culture, new and more accurate terms are being developed. Dr. Aron's description is one of the more popular descriptions of the trait since it has a positive 'spin', unlike names like "cognitiave or emotional hypersensitivity" which may have a negative social stigma. Clinicians and academics are rapidly adopting this new descriptive name. ~ Bwagstaff 05:18, 4 September 2006 (UTC)
I don't think one article is enough to merit an inclusion in WP, even if it's a peer-reviewed one. This is an encyclopaedia, not arxiv 62.30.197.24 12:29, 21 December 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Other languages
There appears to be other research in Germany and The Netherlands, independently of Dr. Aron's. My German and Dutch, however, isn't good enough to decipher it.
If you could provide some links, I am a native Dutch speaker and can probably also decipher most German. -- Manuzhai
Can you provide the Dutch references? -- Renato
I am HSP myself and the info seems to be correct. There is not much known about HSP anyway since the psychological idea of it is quite new. And that's one of the problems with recognition and acceptance of it in the first place. Just like Whiplash was 15 years ago... -- Jeroen
I wouldn't call it research, but in Austria and in the Netherlands there seems to be quite some publicity work for high sensitivity, imho. Alrik Fassbauer (talk) 14:02, 4 January 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Future Additions
HSP's are something that I have quite a bit of experience, and I have read several of Dr. Aron's books. This page is something that I plan on expanding when I have time (in about 2 weeks) when I get back into the country. :) Sonrisasgrandes 18:09, 8 July 2006 (UTC)
What we really need is for a few experts and graduate students to go over this. I have modified the tag from 'expand' to 'expert', and sent out a few requests to experts for additional information and citations in clinical publications. Please feel free to ask around for additional expert information. Bwagstaff 05:27, 4 September 2006 (UTC)
"Dr. Aron's books cite studies involving other animals"... Would somebody with these books please include the citations? Seeing work other than the over-mentioned Dr. Aron would help with both verifiability and original research claims. ~ Bwagstaff 04:04, 5 September 2006 (UTC)
The pdf I added provides a reference to Wilson, D. S., Coleman, K., Clark, A. B., & Biederman, L. (1993). Shy-bold continuum in pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus): An ecological study of a psychological trait. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 107, 250-260. This might seem quite far fetched (to extrapolate from some fishes to all species), but I found that the expression "Shy-bold continuum" is very often used, in many contexts, with many species (as far as I can tell). I'll try to include this in the article. Any comments? Pierre-Alain Gouanvic 04:55, 22 July 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Clarifications
It would be much easier to convey how this construct relates to the rest of the psychometric literature if research findings were phrased in terms of the measures used to classify a "highly sensitive person" (rather than in terms of a loosely-defined set of traits asserted to characterize a "highly sensitive person"). It looks like Aron and Aron developed the Highly Sensitive Person Scale for this sort of purpose, and some connections have been established in later literature. From Smolewska, McCabe, & Woody, 2006:
"...in contrast to Aron and Aron's finding that the scale is unidimensional, the current results support a three-component structure consisting of Aesthetic Sensitivity (AES), Low Sensory Threshold (LST), and Ease of Excitation (EOE). BIS activity was especially associated with the component of EOE. In addition, the components had different patterns of association with the "Big Five". More specifically, AES showed the strongest relation with Openness to Experience, while LST and EOE were found to be most closely associated with Neuroticism."
But it's more important to demonstrate some discriminant validity of HSP measures compared with other personality scales if one is to make the case that this construct doesn't just exist to sell books. 68.35.68.100 23:02, 9 November 2006 (UTC)
- I agree. I'd like to see more discriminant validity and anything that would make me think this isn't stuff mostly made up by these authors. Sensitivity like they describe happens to people in the autistic spectrum. Is there any research out there to suggest that this 'high sensitivity' is a valid construct? In its present form, it seems to be more easily described by other things, perhaps mild autism or just human variation, as opposed to a state or condition that needs an independent nomenclature. --DanielCD 02:01, 1 February 2007 (UTC)
- I added a link to the Highly Sensitive Person Scale and included a remark on its existence in the lead section. The difference between Autism and Sensitivity is comparable to the difference between day and night; sensitivity to others is profound in HSPs and shallow at best in ASD. "Sensitivity like they describe happens to people in the autistic spectrum" is a false assertion.
- I'd like to point out, in addition, that the quote you (68.35.68.100) provided is conveniently truncated to serve your skepticism. I am not sure that this is rigorous and honest. The preceding sentences are: "Aron and Aron (1997) developed the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS) to measure individual differences in sensory-processing sensitivity (SPS). The purpose of the present study was to examine further the psychometric properties of the HSPS, and its association with the behavioural inhibition system (BIS) and behavioural activation system (BAS) (Carver & White, 1994), and the "Big Five" (Costa & McCrae, 1992). Results demonstrate that the HSPS is a valid and reliable measure of the construct of SPS." Hmm. Aren't we talking here about a "valid construct", as you say? If the test has a cut-off line (HSPs vs the others), as was demonstrated by Aron using the HSPS, how can you say that it is a matter of "human variation"? There is very little ground for you to accuse Aron of being motivated by self-interest. Please refrain from this kind of aggressive skepticism. Pierre-Alain Gouanvic 07:51, 28 July 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Completely Editing this Article
I would like to completely re-do this article for the reasons I state below...
High Sensitivity does indeed exist, but the definition offered by Dr. Aron and Jim Hallowes is incorrect. Just because you are shy does not mean that you are highly sensitive. A highly sensitive person (HSP) is a person who is in tune with their soul, sprituality, and emotions, and has extra sensory perception. These people have opened up themselves and freed their soul and thus they feel things that others are unable to. Those who are highly sensitive make up a miniscule amount of the population, according to the department of psychiatric and paranormal studies of UCLA, 1 out of every 30,000 people is a highly sensitive person and this comes in varying degrees of sensitivity. Dr. Aron and Jim Hallowes are avidly pushing out false information and benfitting from it, because they are promoting cruises, to buy their books and their tapes, all filled with false information. High sensitivity is such a rare thing that no one really knows about it, and those who are truly highly sensitive don't go around parading it, so therefore these two can get away with their false information and bogus research because no one really knows what they heck they are talking about and they only have their false information to go by. If you want examples of true Highly Ssensitive People go take a look at Jesus christ, Edgar Cayce and Dr. David Viscott.The more renowned and known Highly Sensitive People. Being SHY does NOT make you a Highly Sensitive Person. Dr. Aron and Jim Hallowes are working over people's need to feel special by calling a characteristic everyone has exhibited and labeling it as a desirable trait, thus making it possible for them to make more money. I can't cite any credible sources because there are none, all the research done on HSp has been done with the definition and characteristics that Dr. Aron and Jim Hallowes SAY HSP have. The only credible information on HSP comes from those who are ACTUALLY hsp, which neither Dr. Aron or Jim Hallowes are. UCLA has has done some research on extra sensory perception in their department of psychiatric and paranormal studies, but they focus on the size and activity of the brain and what theat brings about. But again,,, just because you are shy does not mean that you are hsp,,, and on the contrary true Highly sensitive people are very outgoing. Those are my reasons I guess for wanting to change it, and a little bit how I would change it,, if you would like to see how I actually edited the article before and how I would edit it this time around here is what I said...
A highly sensitive person (HSP) is a person who is in tune with their soul, sprituality, and emotions, and has extra sensory perception. These people have opened up themselves and freed their soul and thus they feel things that others are unable to. Those who are highly sensitive make up a miniscule amount of the population, according to the department of psychiatric and paranormal studies of UCLA, 1 out of every 30,000 people is a highly sensitive person and this comes in varying degrees of sensitivity. They may find that they are able to read those around them simply by looking into their eyes, they are able to feel the emotions and thoughts of others around them, and they feel compelled to help those they come into contact with. Such people commonly will come off as wise and very familiar to those they interact with. They cannot tell the future or speak with the dead and they do not claim to be able to perform such things, they are simply people who feel every emotion at a higher and more profound degree than most, they have opened their minds and souls allowing them to feel what others supress and hide in themselves. High Sensitivity is not an inherited trait for it is a matter of setting ones soul free and becoming in tune with ones self.
The term highly sensitive person was coined and incorrectly defined as one who is simply shy, by Dr. Elaine N. Aron in 1996, and because of the incorreect definition given by Dr. Elaine N. Aron and Jim Hollowes the name is gaining popularity it is taking a characteristic which every single person on this earth is going to experience at least once in their lifetime and then labeling that behavior with a name that makes them feel special. By presenting High Sensitivity as simply someone who is shy, Dr. Elain N. Aron and her crony Jim Hallowes are making roughly over $200,000 between the two by playing on the minds and feelings of low self-esteem individuals. Their method of choice is to name drop celebrities to make their audience feel even more special, and after they have given their audience a sufficient ego boost they will encourage the audience to go on one of their many cruises, buy their books, and buy their tapes. They are using simple and easy salesman techniques, but they are lacking in their salespitch for they repeat the same Incorrect information over and over and over and are quite boring and seemingly unenthusiastic in their over rehearsed speeches.
True examples of Highly Sensitive People would be Jesus Christ, Edgar Cayce, and Dr. David Viscott. Attributes and characteristics Highly Sensitive People enjoy their alone time, and solitude. Dr. David Viscott explains this thought in his book Finding Your Strength in Difficult Times, "When you have found yourself, being alone is a privilege, not a punishment... Your creations and inventions, your solutions to the problems that most vex you, all come to you in isolation. It is only when you are by yourself that you can be receptive to the stillness of your inner voice... This solitude is the place from which your originality and specialness issue... Learn to love being with yourself. It is the highest place to which you can aspire." While highly sensitive people enjoy being alone, they are not shy in the least. On the contrary highly sensitive people are very outgoing and personable, should they chose to go out. Highly Sensitive People feel this deep need and desire to help those around them. You will often find Highly Sensitive People working in a field such as Teaching, Counceling, or Psychology... a field in which they can help and positively advance people's development.
If someone has any problem with what I have put here, feel free to say something, otherwise I would really like to correct this article.Cool ray man 21:38, 15 August 2007 (UTC)
- I strongly object. Your rewrite is unsourced, heavily biased, not cross referenced, and factually deficient. If you have additional citations, please add the detail along with them. If you have additional source material, please expand the article and reference it. But please don't just rewrite a growing article to fit your personal bias. That particular rewrite would likely be reverted as vandalism by those who regularly patrol WP. --Bwagstaff 07:09, 18 August 2007 (UTC)
I agree that high sensitivity has nothing to do with shyness - in a primary sense. Shyness seems imho to be a secondary thing.
But apart from that, this proposition doesn't sound too much objective, imho. Alrik Fassbauer (talk) 14:05, 4 January 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Advice (moved from article)
This section was removed from the main page due to non-encyclopedic content. Please keep all advice off the main page.
Elaine Aron advises:
- "Rather than forcing themselves to fit in and be more outgoing, HSPs need to learn to appreciate their sensitivity in less stimulating ways. Developing boundaries for safety and comfort becomes important. If they are sensitive to bright fluorescent lights, chemical odors or certain kinds of people, HSPs need to use their creativity to find ways to avoid such stimuli."[1] and "Spend at least eight to ten hours per day in bed, whether sleeping or not, plus an extra two hours spent in meditation or other forms of solitude and one hour of outdoor exercise."[2]
Kathy Moore advises:
- "use some form of releasing therapy, such as Yoga therapy; hypnotherapy; energy work of any kind, such as Reiki; Dance; MAP or ACCESS, to 'let go' of stuck emotions, whether yours or someone else's."[2]
Jim Hallowes of www.HighlySensitivePeople.com advises:
- “Take good care of yourself. Learn about this “gift” you have of the trait of high sensitivity. Learn to set healthy boundaries for yourself, also good nutrition and exercise is very important. Because highly sensitive persons process and reflect upon incoming information so deeply, they are more likely to become over stimulated and overwhelmed than Non-HSP and may need alone time. Be aware of this fact and honor it. Make an attempt to slowly and comfortably educate the important people in your life about your trait and temperament. With proper education about this inherited trait of high sensitivity, you will learn to not just cope and deal with your trait but to excel with it!”[3]
Ted Zeff advises:
- It will help the HSP to create a daily routine. Spend at least fifteen minutes in the morning centering yourself through techniques such as meditation, progressive relaxation, listening to a meditation tape or CD, or hatha yoga. Your evening routine should consist of calming endeavors such as reading uplifting books, writing, meditating, taking a bath, or having light discussions. Try not to watch overstimulating or violent television shows or movies in the evening. It’s important to use the senses to calm the HSP’s nervous system. Avoid jarring noises by listening to relaxing background music or white noise, or wearing earplugs. Give yourself or receive a massage on a regular basis. Reduce the time you sit in front of a television set or computer screen. Reduce your use of caffeine by drinking calming herbal teas and a lot of pure water. Try inhaling scents of calming essential oils or incense. Take a mini retreat twice a week and a longer retreat several times a year.[4]
- A healthy diet for the HSP should include lots of organic veggies, fruits, whole grains, and low-fat protein. Reduce your consumption of sugar, preservatives, salt, high-glycemic foods, and processed foods. It’s calming and nurturing for the HSP’s nervous system to eat heavy, warm, moist dishes such as hearty soups and casseroles. The HSP should generally do gentle exercises like walking, yoga, or tai chi and avoid tense environments like overstimulating health clubs or very competitive team sports. It’s best not to work out after 7 P.M. since it may create insomnia for the HSP.[4]
- To create an enjoyable and relaxing work environment for the HSP, try to develop a positive attitude toward your job by creating enjoyable social interactions, helping others and being enthusiastic about your work. If possible, listen to calming background music, gaze at pictures of natural settings and bring flowers and plants to work. If you are sitting all day at work, periodically perform stretches and take short walks. Throughout the day do some slow abdominal breathing and take short meditation breaks. Explore changes in your job schedule such as beginning work later, working from home, or reducing your hours. If you are working in a very stressful job that can’t be modified, examine your beliefs and values as to why you continue to work in a difficult situation. Investigate new job possibilities that are well suited for your sensitivity.[4] —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Bwagstaff (talk • contribs) 22:49, 31 January 2007 (UTC).
