Studies have shown that some people seem more sensitive than others. Now researchers have developed a free online questionnaire that allows you to test exactly how sensitive you are.
The sensitivity test forms part of a new website launched today, which aims to provide reliable and evidence-based information on sensitivity.
The website offers an opportunity for individuals to measure their own, or their child's, sensitivity via a short questionnaire that assesses how they are affected by various psychological and sensory experiences. For example, how much they notice when small things around them have changed, whether loud noises make them feel uncomfortable and whether they dislike watching violent TV programmes.
On completion of the questionnaire respondents receive automatic feedback on their results, detailing where they sit on the sensitivity spectrum and what this means.
Professor Michael Pluess, Professor of Psychology at Queen Mary University of London, and one of the researchers involved in the development and management of this website, said: "Our website responds to the growing interest of the general public in understanding their sensitivity. Whilst there is a considerable amount of information already available online, the issue is that many of the tests provided aren't reliable. The questionnaire we provide is based on extensive research and has been developed and refined over time so people can trust the results they receive."
Sensitive people are defined by researchers as those who are more strongly affected by what they experience. Although everyone is sensitive to an extent, research has shown that people tend to fall into three different groups along a spectrum of sensitivity with about 30% classed as low, 40% as medium and 30% as high in sensitivity.
These groups are often described using flower metaphors with highly sensitive people known as "Orchids" since they require optimal care but are particularly beautiful when they flourish, individuals in the low sensitivity group are "Dandelions", as they tend to be robust and grow anywhere, and those who fall in the middle group are "Tulips" being less delicate than "Orchids" but not as robust as "Dandelions".
By providing accessible blogs on recent sensitivity research and opportunities to take part in research studies, the website also aims to educate the public on the topic and in turn, help them to better understand their own sensitivity.
"Understanding how sensitive you are can be important for helping you to cope in different situations. For example, whilst highly sensitive people are more likely to struggle under stressful circumstances, they are also especially receptive to positive and supportive experiences. Whereas those who are low in sensitivity tend to be more resilient when facing adversity but may also benefit less from positive experiences," added Professor Pluess.
"Through our website we want to provide people with relevant, evidence-based information on sensitivity so they're able to better understand their results and receive practical tips to help them in everyday life."
The online platform is expected to be a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners as well, allowing them to access sensitivity measures, share research articles and advertise their own research projects and recruit participants.
The initial development of the website has been funded by Jacobs Foundation, a private foundation based in Switzerland that supports research and projects worldwide in order to foster positive development in young people.
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Notes to Editors
* Sensitivityresearch.com, is a website run by researchers from Queen Mary University of London, together with colleagues from University of Denver (USA) and University of Albany (USA) and G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara (Italy), dedicated to sharing reliable and evidence-based knowledge on the human trait of sensitivity.
* For more information, please contact:
Sophie McLachlan
Faculty Communications Manager (Science & Engineering)
Queen Mary University of London
sophie.mclachlan@qmul.ac.uk
Tel: 020 7882 3787
About Queen Mary
Queen Mary University of London is a research-intensive university that connects minds worldwide. A member of the prestigious Russell Group, we work across the humanities and social sciences, medicine and dentistry, and science and engineering, with inspirational teaching directly informed by our world-leading research. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework we were ranked 5th in the country for the proportion of research outputs that were world-leading or internationally excellent. We have over 25,000 students and offer more than 240 degree programmes. Our reputation for excellent teaching was rewarded with silver in the most recent Teaching Excellence Framework. Queen Mary has a proud and distinctive history built on four historic institutions stretching back to 1785 and beyond. Common to each of these institutions - the London Hospital Medical College, St Bartholomew's Medical College, Westfield College and Queen Mary College - was the vision to provide hope and opportunity for the less privileged or otherwise under-represented. Today, Queen Mary University of London remains true to that belief in opening the doors of opportunity for anyone with the potential to succeed and helping to build a future we can all be proud of.
About the Jacobs Foundation
The Jacobs Foundation is active worldwide in promoting child and youth development. It was founded in Zurich by entrepreneur Klaus J. Jacobs in 1989. The Jacobs Foundation funds research projects, intervention programs and scientific institutions. It is committed to scientific excellence and evidence-based research.