Trending

The Highly Sensitive Person Website

Created by Dr. Elaine N. Aron, The Highly Sensitive Person website is a place to understand what being an HSP actually means.



Created by: Elaine N. Aron, PhD
Best for: All Highly Sensitive People
Website: hsperson.com

If you are looking for a place to understand what being a Highly Sensitive Person actually means, The Highly Sensitive Person website is one of the most important places to begin. 

Created by Dr. Elaine N. Aron, the psychologist and researcher who pioneered the study of high sensitivity, the website provides foundational information about the trait she calls Sensory-Processing Sensitivity (SPS). 

Aron began researching high sensitivity in 1991 and continues to contribute to research and education around the trait.

The site is particularly useful if you are still wondering whether your experiences fit the HSP trait. It explains that high sensitivity is an innate trait rather than a disorder and describes common experiences such as becoming overwhelmed by stimulation, noticing subtle details, processing experiences deeply, and having a rich inner life. 

It also helps separate high sensitivity from characteristics that are often mistakenly treated as synonymous with it, including shyness and introversion.

What you can gain

The biggest benefit of The Highly Sensitive Person website is a reliable foundation for understanding yourself. Rather than simply telling you that you are "too sensitive," the site gives you language and context for understanding why you may respond differently to stimulation and why certain environments can become overwhelming.

The website also includes a self-test that can help you explore whether you identify with common characteristics of the trait. Importantly, the site makes clear that its self-tests are not intended to diagnose or rule out any medical or psychological condition.

Who it's for

This is an excellent starting point for newly discovering HSPs, long-time HSPs wanting to return to the fundamentals, parents of sensitive children, and anyone who wants information grounded in the original research on the trait.

Personal take

If you are new to high sensitivity, start here. There are countless websites discussing HSPs, but this one gives you the foundation on which much of the modern HSP conversation was built. It is especially valuable when you want to understand the trait rather than simply read relatable stories about sensitivity.


HSP Tools is an online platform helping Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) find the support they need to thrive in an overwhelming world. Follow along if you're a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP).

Post a Comment