Think being highly sensitive means you always prefer a quiet life on the sidelines? Our 2023 study found that for 1 in 3 sensitive people, that stereotype is completely wrong
1. The “Sensitive Thrill-Seeker” is a significant group (25-30% overlap)
The study specifically looked at people who scored in the top 50% for sensation seeking and found that 25% of them were also highly sensitive. Conversely, when looking at the highly sensitive group (the top 34% of the sample), nearly 30% (21 out of 72) also qualified as high sensation seekers. This confirms that a substantial portion of sensitive people, roughly 1 in 3, have a dual nature that craves both depth and intensity.
2. You can crave adventure without being reckless
The study found that while highly sensitive people generally avoid “classic” physical risks (like dangerous driving or gambling), they do score high on seeking new experiences, disinhibition, and adventure when measured correctly. If you love intense travel, deep conversations, or complex art but hate danger, you aren’t “faking” your sensation seeking, you’re just doing it the HSP way.
3. “Impulsivity” might actually be overwhelm in disguise
One of the biggest “aha” moments was a link between high sensitivity and “negative urgency,” the tendency to act rashly when you feel bad. For an HSS/HSP, what looks like impulsive behavior might actually be a coping mechanism to escape overstimulation. If you find yourself making rash decisions only when you’re stressed, it’s likely your nervous system trying to hit the “eject” button on the pressure!
4. The “Reverse-Score” Trap: Why you might have mistyped yourself.
The study discovered that standard personality tests often mislabel HSPs as low sensation seekers simply because HSPs answer “trick questions” (reverse-scored items) more carefully than others. This means many sensitive people may have been told they aren’t sensation seekers just because they are conscientious test-takers, not because they lack the drive for adventure. If you’ve ever taken a test that said you were ‘low’ on adventure but ‘high’ on sensitivity, the test might have been flawed, not you.
5. The “Gas and Brake” Dilemma (Why you feel constantly conflicted)
HSS/HSPs face a unique challenge that other groups don’t: a persistent “inner conflict” between two opposing biological needs. You constantly have to negotiate between your need for novelty (the gas) and your need to withdraw and process (the brake).
- The specific insight: The study highlights that this isn’t just a mood swing, it’s a structural personality conflict. This group struggles more than others to find partners, friends, and careers that fit both sides, often leading to burnout because they try to keep up with their “adventurous” side while ignoring their “sensitive” side until they crash.
6. It explains why “small talk” feels physically painful
The study validated the specific Sensation Seeking Scale for Highly Sensitive Persons (SSSHSP), which includes items like “I can become almost painfully bored in some conversations.” This is a huge validation: it proves that for this group, overstimulation isn’t the only enemy—under-stimulation (boredom) is just as stressful. If you feel drained by mundane routine or shallow chat, it’s not because you’re snobby; it’s a biological need for meaningful intensity.
7. It exposes a major “blind spot” for therapists and educators
Professionals often fail to recognize high sensitivity in people who are outgoing, adventurous, or high-energy. Because these people don’t fit the “shy/anxious” stereotype, their sensitivity is missed, leading to bad advice (like being told to “push through” overwhelm). This article matters because it tells the medical and educational world: Stop assuming all sensitive people are quiet wallflowers.
Consider taking my survey if you are HSS/HSP! HSS/HSP Men especially encouraged !
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666518223000050
Dr. Tracy Cooper 