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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2018 17:35:09 GMT -5
In a recent thread about our childhood experiences as devs, I noticed some common themes that got me thinking. In grad school I wrote a thesis on the concept of sensory processing sensitivity. It is a personality trait that is different from shyness or introversion, and basically refers to the innate tendency of some people to react more strongly to subtleties in their environment (both physical and emotional). I myself identify as a "highly sensitive person," the term coined by Dr. Elaine Aron, the leading researcher on this topic. Anyway. I had a theory that perhaps highly sensitive persons would be overrepresented among devs. Why? Because I noticed that many of us had experiences as kids where we got a subtle message that our interest in disability was inappropriate. Later in life, when/if we finally disclose our "secret," we're often surprised at how anticlimactic the reactions of others actually are. So, my theory is that perhaps we were especially sensitive to others' discomfort around disability in our youth and internalized that, leading to the shame/secrecy many of us know all too well. What do YOU think? Does that sound plausible...ridiculous...I'm curious to know! If anyone is willing to give us some data to work with, please take the 27-item checklist self-test at the following link, and reply to the poll accordingly. It should take less than 5 minutes and the results will be anonymous. hsperson.com/test/highly-sensitive-test/I've conducted original research on this topic before and I would be happy to discuss it more with anyone who is interested! |
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Post by lucretia on Feb 6, 2018 17:41:00 GMT -5
I scored 19. I know I'm highly sensitive. I work very hard to appear to be far less sensitive than I am.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2018 17:45:28 GMT -5
Just to quickly clarify: I'm not implying any causality with this model, i.e. "high SPS causes devness." We all know it's way more complex than that. I just wonder if this trait plays a role in how our self-image develops.
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Post by parashoot on Feb 6, 2018 18:04:41 GMT -5
I got 8.
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Post by tori on Feb 6, 2018 18:18:48 GMT -5
I got sixteen. Eek. Honestly I didn't think I was THAT sensitive.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2018 18:24:05 GMT -5
I got sixteen. Eek. Honestly I didn't think I was THAT sensitive. Sensitivity isn't a bad trait! Even if you score a 27! Also responses do change over the course of one's life. Our sensory processing patterns continue to evolve. |
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Post by annabelle on Feb 6, 2018 18:48:28 GMT -5
I got 11. I think I’m emotionally sensitive but not by noises or lights or too much activity.
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Post by Manda2212 on Feb 6, 2018 20:23:24 GMT -5
I got 11. I think I’m emotionally sensitive but not by noises or lights or too much activity. Ditto! |
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Post by Dee Dee on Feb 6, 2018 21:51:49 GMT -5
In a recent thread about our childhood experiences as devs, I noticed some common themes that got me thinking. In grad school I wrote a thesis on the concept of sensory processing sensitivity. It is a personality trait that is different from shyness or introversion, and basically refers to the innate tendency of some people to react more strongly to subtleties in their environment (both physical and emotional). I myself identify as a "highly sensitive person," the term coined by Dr. Elaine Aron, the leading researcher on this topic. Anyway. I had a theory that perhaps highly sensitive persons would be overrepresented among devs. Why? Because I noticed that many of us had experiences as kids where we got a subtle message that our interest in disability was inappropriate. Later in life, when/if we finally disclose our "secret," we're often surprised at how anticlimactic the reactions of others actually are. So, my theory is that perhaps we were especially sensitive to others' discomfort around disability in our youth and internalized that, leading to the shame/secrecy many of us know all too well. What do YOU think? Does that sound plausible...ridiculous...I'm curious to know! If anyone is willing to give us some data to work with, please take the 27-item checklist self-test at the following link, and reply to the poll accordingly. It should take less than 5 minutes and the results will be anonymous. hsperson.com/test/highly-sensitive-test/I've conducted original research on this topic before and I would be happy to discuss it more with anyone who is interested! I think that this is an interesting theory! Yes, I think that we have a tendency to be quite sensitive to the discomfort of others, not just around disability, but in general. I'd add to that that as (highly) sensitive people, we're certainly ALSO very sensitive to our own discomfort. We're very aware of what goes on around us and take it in easily. If society has told us that being interested in disabilities is generally wrong, then yes, we've very likely been sensitive to that as children. |
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Post by Dee Dee on Feb 6, 2018 22:01:28 GMT -5
My score was 22. I am not surprised about this. It honestly feels intimidating to disclose that - I know that I am highly sensitive, but a bit overwhelming (sic!) to take a test and get a score of sensitivity  |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2018 23:40:15 GMT -5
I'm an HSP 21, but 15 years ago when I first started studying this topic it was even higher than that. I don't personally feel any shame associated with this (not judging!) mainly because when I first encountered this paradigm I felt so completely understood. It seems like another parallel to the power of self-identifying as devs -- THAT one I still struggle with, though less so since becoming active on PD. I recommend reading The Highly Sensitive Person (Dr. Aron's first book). Over the years I've gifted it to several friends and relatives who have later connected with me about SPS. @dee Dee, thank you for being brave and authentic! I get where you're coming from. The connotation of the word "sensitive" today is often skewed negatively, which I find to be quite sad as I see my sensitivity as something I like about myself (and others) as well as something valuable to the world more generally.
I'll share a little anecdote from my youth that ties things back to devness. Like a lot of you, I had a strong curiosity about disability/differences. When I was about 8 or 9 I went on a cruise with my family. I spent a lot of time at the "kids' club" and made friends with a girl in a wheelchair, among other kids my age. We had a grand time running wild around the ship together. When my parents me this girl, they were perfectly polite to her but once we were back in our stateroom they started quizzing me about her and wanting to know personal information about her injury, etc., that I hadn't thought to ask. They also spoke about her in a pitying tone which totally baffled me since she seemed SO cool. My parents were very socially liberal and I'm sure had nothing against PWD (perhaps one or both of them were secretly devs, hence their reaction?! only just considered that!). But their reaction to this girl made me so uncomfortable, that I can definitively say that is THE moment where I realized I did NOT want to be open with them about my own interest in disability. Frmo then on, if we saw a disabled character on TV, for example, I would be so anxious pretending to be nonchalant about it, praying no one would mention that character...but of course if there was any way for me to go watch the show later ON MY OWN, I sure as hell would...probably multiple times.
So, my supposition is this: their reaction wasn't actually THAT extreme, but highly sensitive little me picked up on that tension and that's where ALL of the secrecy and shame begins, at least in my story.
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Post by SouthernCalGal on Feb 7, 2018 0:13:40 GMT -5
I got 22-but I've always known!!
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Post by SouthernCalGal on Feb 7, 2018 0:14:58 GMT -5
My score was 22. I am not surprised about this. It honestly feels intimidating to disclose that - I know that I am highly sensitive, but a bit overwhelming (sic!) to take a test and get a score of sensitivity We scored the same!! |
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Post by Emma on Feb 7, 2018 0:22:16 GMT -5
I got 16. I remember taking a similar quiz years ago and back then I scored high as well but I have no idea if it was the same quiz.
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Post by strawberrybubblegum on Feb 7, 2018 3:50:49 GMT -5
I got 15.
I’ve got a feeling that we’ve discussed this or something similar in the past... I’m not sure, though.
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