What Makes A Sensation Seeking HSP?

Have you ever heard of a sensation seeking HSP?

 

Many people – including HSPs themselves – don’t know that highly sensitive people can actually be sensation seeking, which means to enjoy and seek out highly stimulating situations, events, relationships, etc.

 

Which is fair, because the one thing we know about highly sensitive people is that they are susceptible to overstimulation at a much faster rate that others.

 

So, how can a highly sensitive population want to seek stimulation?

 

Introducing sensory-seeking HSPs.

 

If you’re shocked or believe you might fall into this category of HSP, than you might’ve have been unintentionally putting HSPs into a limited box.

 

Let’s get into what makes a high-sensation seeking HSP.

 

Defining A High-Sensation Seeking HSP

According to Dr. Mark Zuckerman’s Sensation Seeking And Risk research paper, sensation seeking is defined as “… the need for “varied, novel, complex, and intense sensations and experiences, and the willingness to take physical, social, legal, and financial risks for the sake of such experiences.”

 

Now, you probably wouldn’t couple the words “risks” and “HSP” together, but in fact, 30% of HSPs do enjoy risk.

 

But that’s only because these risks are calculated. The reward is promised, and that kind of tracks to what a highly sensitive person like you or I can get behind.

 

We are some of the stronger decision makers within any group. Not that we always make the best decisions, we’re not perfect – but our sensitivity lends to the fact that we process a lot of information before making a decision.

 

So, of course, a sensation seeking HSP would be better equipped to assess what risks are genuinely worth taking.

 

And sometimes that risk is telling a risky joke, making a big investment that can pay off in the future, doing and learning new things on their own, which we’ll get into, or even being adventurous and taking spontaneous trips.

 

Now, what I will say is the spontaneity will look different because we’re still talking about people with sensory processing sensitivity here.

 

Related: What Is A Highly Sensitive Person | How To Know If You Are One

 

So, a non-HSP who books a spontaneous trip will have a more “go with the flow” approach. Whereas, an HSP will book that same trip having figured out everything, leave some wiggle room in the itinerary, and know when they’re coming back.

 

These HSPs are mindful of it because they understand their susceptibility to overwhelm. Physical risk-taking isn’t the only form of sensation-seeking either. With curiosity, there’s an openness and willingness to new experiences that don’t necessarily require you to take risks.

 

Disinhibition is another form of sensation-seeking, so think attending parties, taking substances, having different sexual partners, etc. In these cases, the risk may not be a physical one, but a financial, legal, personal or emotional one.

 

How Sensation-Seeking and Sensory Processing Sensitivity Combined Present

According to Dr. Tracy Cooper’s research, sensation-seeking and sensory processing sensitivity combined look like:

 

• Curiosity: Dr. Cooper talks about how because HSP are more receptive to the subtleties of our environment, we are more curious people and are always exploring.
• Creativity: Dr. Cooper mentions two studies she did back in 2014 in which she recorded data highlighting the creativity of HSPs. In a qualitative study, over 90% of participants were creative, and in a quantitative study, 87% identified with being a creative person.
• Boredom: 43% of HSP who took Dr. Cooper’s survey answered yes to the statement “I am easily bored,” which I believe can actually highlight a clear difference from non-sensation seeking HSP. This is good to know if you’re wondering if you fall into this category of HSP.

 

She explains that usually the sensation-seeking HSP can manage both of these traits without a problem, except when they invoke disinhibition that involves risk-taking. That combination can get overstimulating fast, and lead to a negative experience, which doesn’t make the risk worth it anymore.

 

Those are my words, not Dr. Cooper’s, but I completely understand this from personal experience. As a sensation-seeking HSP myself, I have lots of experience with catering to my sensation-seeking side over my sensitivity, and sometimes deciding to reap the consequences of that.

 

I’ll explain some of those consequences in this next section.

 

Are Sensation Seeking HSP Extroverts?

The truth is, the majority of highly sensitive people are neither extroverted or sensation-seeking, so it can be hard to detect them. As mentioned in Dr. Elaine N. Aron’s Psychology And The Highly Sensation Person, one-third of HSP have these characteristics.

 

You can be introverted and sensation-seeking. In fact, a lot of introverted sensation-seeking HSP can appear extroverted because of their openness to new experiences. They’re able to keep up with extroverted people a bit better because of their curiosity and keen interest in exploring.

 

The common result of keeping up with the extroverted is the inevitable recharge that needs to happen so the HSP doesn’t get overwhelmed. It took a while for me to understand this for myself, so I figure it’s helpful to dive into in case you realize you’re also sensation-seeking and need guidance on how to honor your energy.

 

The consequences of not honoring my energy levels would look like staying out longer than planned so I spend more than usual, maybe money I didn’t have for the sake of making sure I get home safe.

 

Being too far from home and the commute back being stressful, not having a “designated support person” (this is an HSP’s version of designated driver) for the night.

 

And sometimes the consequence looked like not being able to indulge in new experiences the next day because I would need at least 3 weeks to recharge.

 

If you’ve ever heard of the ‘ambivert’; the person who is not introverted nor extroverted, but shares characteristics of both, then you’ll have a clear understanding of what the sensation seeking HSP looks like.

 

Sensation Seeking HSPs in Relationships

Something that sensation-seeking HSPs actually struggle with is finding meaningful relationships that fill all their cups, and this goes for all HSP. We desire people in our lives who recognize our emotional and intellectual depth, and be able to reciprocate.

 

The difference for sensation-seeking HSP is that other highly sensitive people can be too sensitive for them. Especially when it comes to making plans, creating shared experiences together, and even having healthy discourse.

 

I’m someone who gets drained from prolonged discourse and heated debates, but I love a good debate once and while, especially if I get to learn something from it. So the risk of energy-depletion is worth it for satiating my curiosity.

 

I’ve experienced connecting with other HSP who aren’t comfortable with discourse for the simple fact that we are in disagreement and it’s a natural response to step back versus dive in.

 

What I will say to all HSP reading this article, sensation-seeking or not, the best thing you can do to cultivate relationships that you enjoy is to appreciate how you receive recognition and reciprocity in them individually.

 

Think of this as dating. Your romantic partner may not check every single box on your list, but the boxes they do check are the ones that matter the most to you (ideally).

 

To expect that all of your friendships have equal levels of depth and reciprocity in all of the same areas, is pretty unreasonable and not representative of what a healthy, safe, and supportive community can be for you – whether you have two people in your corner or twenty.

 

Recap

To quickly recap, here’s what you need to know about sensation seeking HSPs (specifically if you are one!):

 

• Your curiosity, creativity, and susceptibility to boredom makes you thrive with both extroverts and introverts.
• While you have the threshold for excitement, you don’t take risks casually or thoughtlessly.
• Being highly sensitive and sensation seeking gets difficult only when you sacrifice one aspect of yourself for the other, so pro-tip, always consider and honor both!
• Managing your expectations within your relationships doesn’t actually limit them, but can broaden their depth and your overall satisfaction! 

 

That’s the 411 on what is a sensation-seeking HSP. If you liked this article and felt it was helpful, share it with a friend! If you’re a highly sensitive woman who’s ready to leverage her sensitivity to cultivate healthier relationships, check out the CalmWithDom Mentoring services I offer to women just like you.

 

Until next time.