Highly Sensitive People Avoid Intensity, Not Novelty

Background

Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) describes an innate psychological trait characterised by heightened responsiveness to internal and external stimuli. Highly sensitive persons (HSPs) are often described as having a low sensory threshold, increased awareness of environmental and social subtleties, and a tendency to reflect carefully before acting. Rather than seeking strong stimulation, HSPs typically “pause and check”, gathering and analysing information before making decisions (1,2).

Sensory stimulation does not only include basic sensory input such as visual, auditory, taste, and smell stimuli. It also involves more complex forms of stimulation generated by the individual, including emotional arousal, cognition, curiosity, exploration, and bodily reactions.

These forms of stimulation are reflected in the behaviour known as sensation seeking. Sensation seeking has been associated with the preference for arousing music, increased caffeine intake, drinking and substance use, speeding and risk-taking, as well as curiosity, exploration, and intense or varied sensory experiences (3–5).

Although SPS and sensation seeking are often assumed to be opposing tendencies, their relationship has received limited empirical attention.

Aim of the study

In this study, we wanted to examine more closely how SPS is related to sensation seeking (6). Sensation seeking consists of two main dimensions:

1. Novelty seeking – referring to the desire for new experiences
2. Intensity seeking – referring to the desire for strong and arousing stimulation

We expected sensation seeking to be negatively associated with SPS, and we further anticipated that the intensity of stimulation would be more strongly related to SPS than novelty of stimulation.

Method

Our sample consisted of 625 participants (225 women and 400 men) recruited from a university and community population. SPS was measured using the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSP) (1). Sensation seeking was assessed using the Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking (AISS) (7).

The AISS includes two subscales: Novelty Seeking (AISS-N), reflecting the need for new experiences, and Intensity Seeking (AISS-I), reflecting the need for intense sensory stimulation and thrilling experiences (7,8).

Findings

SPS and sensation seeking: overlapping but distinct

Our results showed that the intensity dimension of sensation seeking, but not the novelty dimension, was significantly associated with SPS. Highly sensitive individuals reported a lower preference for intense sensory stimulation, whereas their interest in novelty was largely unrelated to SPS.

In addition, men showed higher scores on both sensation seeking dimensions and lower scores on the HSP scale compared to women (see Tables 1 and 2).

Avoiding intensity as an adaptive strategy

These findings suggest that HSPs tend to actively limit their exposure to environmental stressors and reduce both the amount and intensity of sensory input. This pattern should not be interpreted as avoidance or lack of curiosity, but rather as an adaptive coping strategy for individuals who process sensory and emotional information more deeply (9).

Lower scores on the intensity dimension of the AISS reflect a preference for lower levels of arousal and complexity, rather than a general reluctance to engage with new experiences.

Sensitivity, stimulation, and individual differences

The observed pattern supports the view that sensory processing sensitivity and sensation seeking are empirically and theoretically connected. Individuals differ in how much stimulation they need or tolerate, and these differences influence whether they seek to increase or decrease sensory input.

Our findings also support the interpretation that the HSP scale captures sensitivity to the intensity of complex sensory stimulation, including emotional and cognitive input, rather than simply sensitivity to basic sensory signals (10).

Conclusion

Our results show that higher sensory processing sensitivity is associated with a lower preference for intense sensory stimulation, while novelty seeking is largely unrelated to sensitivity. This pattern was observed across the sample and reflects different strategies for regulating stimulation in everyday life.

Sensory processing sensitivity and sensation seeking can therefore be understood as connected and overlapping phenomena, rather than as opposing traits. Recognising this distinction helps clarify common misunderstandings about sensitivity and highlights the adaptive nature of both high and low sensitivity.