Sensory processing sensitivity and social pain: a hypothesis and theory

Lucia Morellini; Alessia Izzo; Alessia Celeghin; Sara Palermo; Rosalba Morese

doi:10.3389/fnhum.2023.1135440

Sensory processing sensitivity and social pain: a hypothesis and theory

Front Hum Neurosci. 2023 Jun 14:17:1135440. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1135440. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Lucia Morellini¹, Alessia Izzo¹, Alessia Celeghin², Sara Palermo^{2

3}, Rosalba Morese^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland.
² Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
³ Neuroradiology Unit, Diagnostic and Technology Department, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy.
⁴ Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society, Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland.

Abstract

Sensory-processing sensitivity (SPS) defined, as a personality trait, seems to be characterized by emotional sensitivity, and stronger reactivity to both external and internal stimuli. SPS can represent a risk factor for developing clinical conditions during childhood and adolescence. This personality trait is not to be considered a pathological clinical condition, however, can expose to greater environmental vulnerability. In particular, the recent studies about SPS can be contextualized to social situations that evoke traumatic and stressful emotional responses such as social exclusion. We hypothesize that highly sensitive people (HSP) are more vulnerable to social exclusion and social pain. This hypothesis could help structure new educational and intervention models designed to improve coping strategies and promote HSP's psychophysical and social well-being.

Keywords: Cyberball Game; highly sensitive people; pain; sensory-processing sensitivity; social pain.