Am I Highly Sensitive?

Elaine Aron developed and validated the HSP scale based on her research to assess whether individuals are highly sensitive or not. This self-test is based on her HSP scale. Answer this questions with yes or no and take in account if some are a 'extremely YES!'

1. I am easily overwhelmed by strong sensory input.
2. I seem to be aware of subtleties in my environment.
3. Other people’s moods affect me.
4. I tend to be very sensitive to pain.
5. I find myself needing to withdraw during busy days,into bed or into a darkened room or any place where I can have some privacy and relief from stimulation.
6. I am particularly sensitive to the effects of caffeine.
7. I am easily overwhelmed by things like bright lights, strong smells,coarse fabrics,or sirens close by.
8. I have a rich,complex inner life.
9. I am made uncomfortable by loud noises.
10. I am deeply moved by the arts or music.
11. My nervous system sometimes feels so frazzled that I just have to go off by myself.
12. I am conscientious.
13. I startle easily.
14. I get rattled when I have a lot to do in a short amount of time.
15. When people are uncomfortable in a physical environment I tend to know what needs to be done to make it more comfortable (like changing the lighting or the seating).
16. I am annoyed when people try to get me to do too many things at once.
17. I try hard to avoid making mistakes or forgetting things.
18. I make a point to avoid violent movies and TV shows.
19. I become unpleasantly aroused when a lot is going on around me.
20. Being very hungry creates a strong reaction in me,disrupting my concentration or mood.
21. Changes in my life shake me up.
22. I notice and enjoy delicate or fine scents, tastes, sounds, works of art.
23. I find it unpleasant to have a lot going on at once.
24. I make it a high priority to arrange my life to avoid upsetting or overwhelming situations.
25. I am bothered by intense stimuli, like loud noises or chaotic scenes.
26. When I must compete or be observed while performing a task, I become so nervous or shaky that I do much worse than I would otherwise.
27. When I was a child, my parents or teachers seemed to see me as sensitive or shy.

Scoring:

If you answered more than fourteen of the questions as true of yourself, you are probably highly sensitive. If fewer questions are true of you, but extremely true, that might also justify calling you highly sensitive.

But no psychological test is so accurate that an individual should base his or her life on it. A full assessment is necessary in order to be sure.

To make it a bit more complicated, you might also be a Sensation Seeker. Want to know if you fit this description as well? Take the test!

The test on this page is © Elaine Aron and cannot be reproduced without her permission. For more information, visit hsperson.com