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Do you like doing personality tests? While I am usually cautious of them, I have just completed one, as it is based on a field of psychology research that is currently in the news.
But sceptics say the idea of these “highly sensitive people” is unscientific and that the claimed signs could really indicate a different condition, such as autism or anxiety.
So, how can you find out if you or your child are highly sensitive and how good is the evidence supporting the concept?
Highly sensitive people are said to be sensitive to the physical senses – like sights, sounds, tastes – and emotional or mental stimulation.
Open-plan offices can be too noisy for some (Photo: Getty)
According to Dr Aron’s website, they tend to reflect on things deeply and have a “rich and complex inner life”.
Can children be highly sensitive?
Both adults and children can be highly sensitive – indeed, the trait is supposed to be stable over a person’s life.
As a result, there are a multitude of books, websites and podcasts about how to parent highly sensitive children.
But proponents of the idea say it is an especially interesting and useful personality trait to consider, because adults end up happier if they take it into account in how they arrange their lives.
When children are highly sensitive, it is claimed there will be fewer tears and tantrums if they are parented taking that into account.
More controversially, parents are usually advised that when sensitive children misbehave, they should be admonished more gently, rather than with raised voices and consequences.
Psychologists usually classify parenting styles into four approaches. These are: authoritarian (strict, with high expectations), authoritative (less strict, with some negotiation allowed), permissive (very warm, nurturing and little punishment) and uninvolved (very hands-off).
Surprisingly, in a study of 200 American children, those who were classed as highly sensitive at the age of three were more likely to end up with depression symptoms by the time they were nine if their families had a permissive parenting style.
“Permissive parenting is good in the sense that it gives you freedom. But if you process things more deeply, maybe you need a bit of sensitive, structured guidance,” she said. “Maybe you need someone that can help you in regulating your emotions more than other children.”
What do sceptics say?
“The problem with the highly sensitive person label is that it isn’t scientifically robust,” said Amanda Moses, a psychologist and researcher at La Trobe University in Melbourne. “It risks giving people a false sense of explanation while overlooking possibilities such as autism or anxiety.”
square EDUCATION OutnumberedI homeschool my kids - parents like me are judged and exhausted
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In fact, a study by Professor Pluess that came out this month found that adults who are highly sensitive are more likely to have a range of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
“It’s a fundamental difference between people that has implications for the well being of those people,” said Professor Pluess.
People who believe they are extra-sensitive should not be dismissed, but we need to ground our explanations in evidence, said Moses.
Cancer, one of the most feared medical conditions, is often seen as an unstoppable force. But in fact, the opposite is true. It is common for our bodies to successfully eradicate early cancers without us even noticing.
Now, many scientists believe the fact that the immune system can defeat at least some early cancers suggests it could hold the secret to developing better treatments.
I’ve been watching
Lead actor Rachel Zegler leaves the stage to deliver the song on the building’s outside balcony. So, us paying theatre-goers had to watch this part of the show on a screen, while the crowds outside got the live experience.
While a break with tradition, this did not mar my enjoyment of the iconic show, and Zegler’s charismatic and gutsy performance more than made up for her temporary absence from the stage.
Hence then, the article about why even sensitive children don t need gentle parenting was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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