Every person possesses a set of distinct personality traits. Still, some individuals have characteristics that make them stand out from the rest. Traits are differences between individuals in tendencies to behave in a specific way consistently, have specific thinking patterns, experience feelings, and do actions. In other words, traits are the things that make a person unique.
Highly sensitive people (HSPs) possess traits that set them apart from others in that they are deeply affected by their environment and the feelings of others more than most people. The traits of highly sensitive people define how they interact with others, resolve conflicts, and make decisions.
Read on to discover the traits of a highly sensitive person, gender differences in sensitivity levels, and the Big Five personality traits associated with the HSP personality type.
What are the Most Common Highly Sensitive Person Traits?
Traits define who we are and how we go about life. The traits of highly sensitive people span emotional, cognitive, and physical domains. These can be both positive and negative, depending on the situation.
Here are some of the common traits associated with Highly Sensitive People:
1. High Levels of Empathy
Highly sensitive people often have a deep understanding and appreciation for the feelings and emotions of others. HSPs tend to be highly attuned to subtle changes in body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. This HSP trait can be an incredible asset in relationships, as they often have a strong sense of empathy and compassion.
2. Easily Overwhelmed
Hyper-awareness of their environment can often lead to feeling overwhelmed by loud noises, bright lights, and other stimuli. Highly sensitive people are easily overstimulated because they process more information than most people. Therefore, they need to take more time to recover after being exposed to intense experiences.
3. Quickly Angered
HSPs have a low sensory threshold and can become easily irritated or angered. Because they tend to be overwhelmed and overstimulated by environmental factors such as loud noises, bright lights, and other uncomfortable sensations, they are “emotionally primed” for frustration and being short-tempered. Compare it to how you feel when you are overtired or hungry and how easily you may react to little things. Their sensitivity to emotions is also a contributing factor. It is this “quick-to-anger” nature that leads many HSPs try to avoid conflicts and try to keep themselves in a calm state.
4. Deep Thinkers
Analytic thinking is a common trait among Highly Sensitive People. They take their time in processing information, reflecting on the pros and cons of each situation, and coming to an informed conclusion. HSPs highly value introspection as they use it to understand their thoughts and feelings better.
5. Easily Hurt
Criticism and negative feedback often have a greater impact on HSPs than on the average person. Because they are strongly attuned to their environment and the emotions of those around them, HSPs tend to take on criticism more personally. Physical pain can also be more intense for HSPs, making things like medical procedures and physical contact more difficult to endure.
Additionally, because they are so sensitive to the subtleties in people's tone, body language, and words, HSPs may often perceive others as being mean or harsh, even when no ill intent was meant. This heightened sensitivity can sometimes make the world feel like a more hostile place than it actually is.
6. High Creativity
Artistic pursuits and creative projects often come naturally to highly sensitive people. Intense feelings of emotion can often lead to powerful displays of creativity in song, dance, writing, and other art forms.
7. Intuitive Insight
Regarding problem-solving, the highly sensitive person tends to have a heightened sense of intuition. Their deeply analytical minds often lead them to make insightful and creative connections between seemingly unrelated ideas. This characteristic makes them a perfect fit for jobs that require out-of-the-box thinking.
8. Intense Imagination
Vivid imagination and visualization skills can often be attributed to highly sensitive people. These traits lead to a heightened sense of creativity and allow them to take on bigger challenges more confidently.
Are There Gender Differences in HSP Traits?
Now that you know some of the most common traits of a highly sensitive person, it is important to understand that not all HSPs will have the same set of traits. Everyone is unique and displays different characteristics that make them who they are.
For example, studies have found that, in general, women tend to score more on the HSP scale, indicating that they have more sensitive traits than men. However, this doesn't mean that all HSPs are female — there are many sensitive people of both genders.
There are also some differences in how males and females exhibit HSP traits. For instance, males are more likely to show physical signs of sensitivity, such as feeling overwhelmed or anxious, while females tend to be more emotionally sensitive and empathetic. Additionally, women are more likely to be affected by their environment and the emotions of those around them than men.
Do you think you are a highly sensitive person? Take our Big 5 Personality Test and see if you have HSP traits!
Highly Sensitive Person Traits Associated with the Big 5
Highly sensitive people often have specific personality traits that make them stand out from the crowd. These individuals generally have higher levels of certain Big Five personality traits. This includes higher levels of neuroticism, openness to experience, agreeableness, and introversion.
Neuroticism is typically associated with heightened emotional sensitivity and higher levels of anxiety and depression. Openness to experience, on the other hand, is linked to a heightened level of imagination and creativity. HSPs also tend to have higher levels of agreeableness, making them more empathetic. Lastly, HSPs tend to have a lower degree of extraversion or sociability, instead showing higher introversion as they often prefer to be alone.
Whether you're a Highly Sensitive Person or not, it's important to remember that everyone is unique and special in their own way. There is no one-size-fits-all definition for sensitive people — the abovementioned traits are just some of the many that can be associated with HSPs.
As long as you are comfortable exploring your sensitivities, embracing your unique traits, and knowing your limits, you can find peace in whatever situation or environment you are in. If you are dealing with anxiety or high emotion levels that impact your functioning, positive affirmations and grounding techniques are helpful for HSPs.
Want to learn more about sensitivity and how it affects your life?
Become a member of BrainManager and get access to exclusive tools that will help you better understand yourself and how to live a balanced life. A 7-day trial for just $1.95 is available to explore the membership benefits, such as psychological tests and self-improvement resources. You can also check things out as a free member!
