I came across an interesting article today that shed new light on the relationship between Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) and narcissism. Unlike previous research and online discussions that often focus on the advantages of being an HSP and view it as a gift, this article delves into why this discourse tends to neglect the potential downsides of high sensitivity.

According to the article, public discourse suggests that individuals who identify themselves as highly sensitive often see themselves as fundamentally different from others and perceive their personality as both a gift and a burden. From a clinical perspective, high sensitivity could overlap with hypersensitive narcissism or vulnerable narcissism. The underlying logic behind this association could be hypothesized as “I deserve to feel good all the time, but I am fragile, so I (and potentially others) must take great care of myself.”(Jauk et al., 2022)

This revelation has been eye-opening for me and has opened up new critical perspectives. I am now starting to question if online discussions about HSP truly serve to help them, or if those who engage in such discussions have deeper motives. After all, the measurement of HSP in psychology relies heavily on self-identification and lacks physiological testing. Could excessive discussions about HSP have unintended consequences? Could they reinforce certain individuals’ self-fulfilling prophecies, as psychology suggests that people tend to conform to their own expectations? Are these discussions truly helping HSPs better be inclusive in society, or could they be having the opposite effect?