Highly Sensitive People - Sounds, Smells and Sentiments
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Susan Meindl
Susan Meindl, MA, is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Montreal Canada. She has a special interest in Jungian ideas and practices a Jungian approach to psychodynamic psychotherapy.
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By Susan Meindl
Published on 07/31/2010
Infant research shows that this sensitivity seems to be present from
birth. Carl Jung was apparently not far off the mark in his sense of its
prevalence since current studies suggest that 15-20 % of all humans
(and even animals) show the trait of high sensitivity and that it is
equally divided between men and women. This non-trivial rate of
appearance in the population suggests that it offered an evolutionary
advantage. ... High sensitivity then is both a blessing and a curse and a normal part of the colorful spectrum of human character.
Infant research shows that this sensitivity seems to be present from
birth. Carl Jung was apparently not far off the mark in his sense of its
prevalence since current studies suggest that 15-20 % of all humans
(and even animals) show the trait of high sensitivity and that it is
equally divided between men and women. This non-trivial rate of
appearance in the population suggests that it offered an evolutionary
advantage. ... High sensitivity then is both a blessing and a curse and a normal part of the colorful spectrum of human character.Is there such a thing as being "too sensitive"?
The first modern psychological discussion of the problems of hypersensitive and hyper-responsive people appeared in the 1930's when psychologist Carl Jung was elaborating his ideas on personality types.
He speculated that approximately 25 % of his therapeutic clients were individuals who were inordinately sensitive to the stimulation coming from their surroundings.
This sensitivity included, responses to sound and light and smells, as well as heightened emotional attunedness... being both easily affected by, and also very aware of, other peoples feelings.
He noted as well a heightened attention to details of all sorts.
He proposed that this sensitivity was related to a character trait which he called "introversion" and that it was also connected to the quality of "intuition".
High Sensitivity and Introversion: Introversion is no longer "low sociability."
Modern personality researchers have done hundreds of studies on the personality traits of introversion-extroversion.
Early research treated it as a measure of sociability, later research looked it more generally as a physiological measure. The studies concur that introverts are:
* More physically sensitive
* More sensitive to stimuli and stimulants
* They process information more thoroughly
* They prefer to reflect before acting
* More reflective when given feedback
* More vigilant in discrimination tasks
* Slower to acquire and forget information due to their deeper processing into memory
Greater sensitivity is found at all levels of the nervous system from sensitivity to pinpricks, to skin conductivity to faster reaction times
High sensitivity is innate.
You are born with it.
Infant research shows that this sensitivity seems to be present from birth.
Carl Jung was apparently not far off the mark in his sense of its prevalence since current studies suggest that 15-20 % of all humans (and even animals) show the trait of high sensitivity and that it is equally divided between men and women.
This non-trivial rate of appearance in the population suggests that it offered an evolutionary advantage.
Individuals who are sensitive or reactive will "look before they leap" and survive to reproduce.
Hypersensitivity and PTSD
The exception to the "born with it" rule is extreme sensitivity that is associated with the after-effects of trauma.
Effects of high sensitivity on social and emotional development
Loud, busy or emotionally over-stimulating environments are harder on highly sensitive individuals.
They may withdraw or minimize their exposure to these situations and develop an introverted social style.
Some highly sensitive individuals are still extroverts!
Usually these are people who have grown up in supportive extended families where social interaction was a source of comfort and the family "ran interference" protecting them from over-stimulation and anxiety until they had the skills to manage the world themselves.
They still typically report needing a lot of "down time" to recuperate after social encounters.
Negative family environments
Highly sensitive children born into less supportive families which do not recognize their special vulnerability and protect them often grow up to be anxious, withdrawn or emotionally avoidant.
Highly sensitive people are highly sensitive to their internal bodily processes too.
Chronic over-arousal is a common a source of stress for sensitive individuals
* Highly sensitive people often present medically with stress related illnesses and environmental sensitivities.
* These illnesses may sometimes be dismissed by others as "psychosomatic" especially since their less sensitive fellows would not be so easily overwhelmed.
* Psychosomatic symptoms may indeed be produced as the individual unconsciously seeks socially acceptable ways to reduce their activity and over-stimulation.
Highly sensitive people are often accused of indecisiveness and slow decision making.
Their deep and detailed processing of information and ideas takes longer than other peoples.
Human empathy is based on our ability to read subtle emotional signals.
Individuals who are more sensitive and more vigilant naturally become better readers of these signals. Some sensitive persons have problems in intimate relationships since:
* They respond so strongly to criticism.
* Their detailed consideration of all aspects of life makes them prone to spot flaws in others and become irritated by their loved one's minor annoying habits.
* They try to control and tune their environment to a level that they find tolerable.
With prevalence in the population of 15 to 20% that makes almost one in five of our friends and relatives "highly sensitive."
High sensitivity then is both a blessing and a curse and a normal part of the colorful spectrum of human character.
Reference:
E.N. Aron (2004). Revisiting Jung's Concept of Innate Sensitiveness.
Journal of Analytical Psychology, 49, pp.337-367.
Susan Meindl, MA, is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Montreal Canada. She has a special interest in Jungian ideas and practices a Jungian approach to psychodynamic psychotherapy
http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/59983
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Meindl
~~~~
Photo: Scarlett Johansson working on a movie, from my video On Being Sensitive.
Related post: Shyness, Introversion, Sensitivity – What’s the Difference?
For multiple, non-drug self-help programs for stress, see Anxiety Relief Solutions
The first modern psychological discussion of the problems of hypersensitive and hyper-responsive people appeared in the 1930's when psychologist Carl Jung was elaborating his ideas on personality types.
He speculated that approximately 25 % of his therapeutic clients were individuals who were inordinately sensitive to the stimulation coming from their surroundings.
This sensitivity included, responses to sound and light and smells, as well as heightened emotional attunedness... being both easily affected by, and also very aware of, other peoples feelings.
He noted as well a heightened attention to details of all sorts.
He proposed that this sensitivity was related to a character trait which he called "introversion" and that it was also connected to the quality of "intuition".
High Sensitivity and Introversion: Introversion is no longer "low sociability."
Modern personality researchers have done hundreds of studies on the personality traits of introversion-extroversion.
Early research treated it as a measure of sociability, later research looked it more generally as a physiological measure. The studies concur that introverts are:
* More physically sensitive
* More sensitive to stimuli and stimulants
* They process information more thoroughly
* They prefer to reflect before acting
* More reflective when given feedback
* More vigilant in discrimination tasks
* Slower to acquire and forget information due to their deeper processing into memory
Greater sensitivity is found at all levels of the nervous system from sensitivity to pinpricks, to skin conductivity to faster reaction times
High sensitivity is innate.
You are born with it. Infant research shows that this sensitivity seems to be present from birth.
Carl Jung was apparently not far off the mark in his sense of its prevalence since current studies suggest that 15-20 % of all humans (and even animals) show the trait of high sensitivity and that it is equally divided between men and women.
This non-trivial rate of appearance in the population suggests that it offered an evolutionary advantage.
Individuals who are sensitive or reactive will "look before they leap" and survive to reproduce.
Hypersensitivity and PTSD
The exception to the "born with it" rule is extreme sensitivity that is associated with the after-effects of trauma.
Effects of high sensitivity on social and emotional development
Loud, busy or emotionally over-stimulating environments are harder on highly sensitive individuals.
They may withdraw or minimize their exposure to these situations and develop an introverted social style.
Some highly sensitive individuals are still extroverts!
Usually these are people who have grown up in supportive extended families where social interaction was a source of comfort and the family "ran interference" protecting them from over-stimulation and anxiety until they had the skills to manage the world themselves.
They still typically report needing a lot of "down time" to recuperate after social encounters.
Negative family environments
Highly sensitive children born into less supportive families which do not recognize their special vulnerability and protect them often grow up to be anxious, withdrawn or emotionally avoidant.
Highly sensitive people are highly sensitive to their internal bodily processes too.
Chronic over-arousal is a common a source of stress for sensitive individuals
* Highly sensitive people often present medically with stress related illnesses and environmental sensitivities.
* These illnesses may sometimes be dismissed by others as "psychosomatic" especially since their less sensitive fellows would not be so easily overwhelmed.
* Psychosomatic symptoms may indeed be produced as the individual unconsciously seeks socially acceptable ways to reduce their activity and over-stimulation.
Highly sensitive people are often accused of indecisiveness and slow decision making.
Their deep and detailed processing of information and ideas takes longer than other peoples.
Human empathy is based on our ability to read subtle emotional signals.
Individuals who are more sensitive and more vigilant naturally become better readers of these signals. Some sensitive persons have problems in intimate relationships since:
* They respond so strongly to criticism.
* Their detailed consideration of all aspects of life makes them prone to spot flaws in others and become irritated by their loved one's minor annoying habits.
* They try to control and tune their environment to a level that they find tolerable.
With prevalence in the population of 15 to 20% that makes almost one in five of our friends and relatives "highly sensitive."
High sensitivity then is both a blessing and a curse and a normal part of the colorful spectrum of human character.
Reference:
E.N. Aron (2004). Revisiting Jung's Concept of Innate Sensitiveness.
Journal of Analytical Psychology, 49, pp.337-367.
Susan Meindl, MA, is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Montreal Canada. She has a special interest in Jungian ideas and practices a Jungian approach to psychodynamic psychotherapy
http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/59983
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Meindl
~~~~
Photo: Scarlett Johansson working on a movie, from my video On Being Sensitive.
Related post: Shyness, Introversion, Sensitivity – What’s the Difference?
For multiple, non-drug self-help programs for stress, see Anxiety Relief Solutions