The basics of sensory processing sensitivity

Sensitivity is a normal part of life. However, the degree and frequency to which any individual experiences an amplified, and perhaps oversensitivity to the world and others varies. This heighted responsiveness or sensitivity to the environment and others, known as sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), differential susceptibility, vantage sensitivity, environmental sensitivity, and biological sensitivity to context, is the topic of this book. This chapter provides a broad and brief overview of SPS, describing its behavioral and biological characteristics, history, and evolutionary basis. Moreover, the chapter provides practical examples of everyday issues related to SPS and clinical disorders that may overlap with the trait. The chapter closes with an overview of the present state of SPS knowledge, public awareness, and utility; and looks toward the future of SPS-related applications both on planet Earth and beyond.