In recent years, there has been more and more talk about very sensitive peoplebetter known as PASS. Numerous influencers and other non-psychological characters have publicly declared themselves as such. However, it can be said that most of them do not have a psychological diagnosis, but simply they did a test it helped them understand how they felt. An online test that anyone can take, and if we do, most of us will end up classified as PAS.
However, manuals for this personality trait indicate that it affects approximately 30% of the population. This is the first thing that should alert us. The thing is, we can all diagnose ourselves, and besides, the numbers don’t add up.
Does this mean the PAS label is a myth? To answer this question, it is necessary to use certain nuances. It can be seen as another shortcut inside field of psychology. Or even, more precisely, as a character trait. However, this is not a diagnosis, and treating it as such can be a problem because it pathologizes completely normal behavior. After all, empathy and sensitivity In certain situations, they are features of PAS that are common to large populations. Considering that almost like a psychological problem can eventually bring us problems.
What are PAS people like?
Precisely because it is not a diagnosis per se, the term PAS is not well defined. The person who coined the term in the mid-90s is seen as a label for personality. Elaine Aaronestablished four criteria for identifying these people.
First of all, these are people who very deeply process all the information that comes to them, which is why they things go around a lot. On the other hand, they tend feel full if they have to process a lot of information. Except, feel very stronglyboth pleasant and unpleasant. And finally they can catch the subtleties invisible to other people.
All this, allegedly, because they have more “leaky” neurosensory system. But this is something that has not been studied enough.
we can all be
If we do an official online test to see if we are a PAS, it is more than likely that we will say yes. This does not converge, as we can intuitively understand. However, to find out more, hypertext we contacted a psychologist Raoul Arakeone of the members of the information duo Walden Two. “The main problem with this test is that it has no validity for data awareness“.
In addition, as with other Internet tests, the results are completely subjective And not properly validated. “When you give someone a questionnaire, there is usually a manual that explains how the test is done, and another that teaches mathematical basis, statistical question, what population should be done withetc.,” explains the psychologist. “You know if the population is good or bad for this because it has been tested before.” And therein lies the problem. All these online tests they don’t have this study and this check. “These are questions invented by someone who, without testing them on anyone, understands that a certain score is a lot or a little,” says Arake. “But it’s up to you not empirical“.
In fact, the psychologist cites as an example a test that is sold in the Spanish speaking world but not used in Spain because we only have scale of mexico and italy. Different people, with different geographic backgrounds, can influence the results in different ways. All of this is data that needs to be taken into account and that is not taken into account in online tests, such as the one that tells you if you are a PAS.
Lots of PAS influencers
Influencers have a huge speaker on any topic. For this reason, the fact that many have recently joined the PAS vogue to explain their behavior does not help. separate label from reality.
Unfortunately, when the message very categoricalexaggerated, it’s when he has the biggest loudspeaker,” Arake says. “Therefore, it is not the same as saying that there are people who see the same stimulus in different ways or distinguishing thousands of nuances, how to directly say that you are very sensitive.” It is easier for the followers of these people to see each other classified as PAS. “In the end, the need for visualization that these influencers have is mixed with the need for people to have a label.”
That’s right, we’re all looking for a label that explains our behavior and subtracts uncertainty our life. But these shortcuts can backfire on many levels. To start, we can change our behavior. In fact, this is what, according to the psychologist interviewed for this article, happens even with other “more scientific” labels such as depression. “It’s not the same as saying that I’m sad, that it hurts me to leave the house, etc. than to say that I have depression,” says the expert. “becomes explanation for your behaviorand not vice versa”.
The same thing happens with PAS. They are affected by a label that they don’t even scientifically know if it actually fits them. And it can affect your behavior. This is what, according to Arake, psychologists call “learned helplessness‘: ‘Why should I try if I can’t?’
Therefore, the work of psychologists is needed here, who, in consultation, also work on psychological education. “It’s about explaining that it’s not that you’re highly sensitive, but that you react in certain ways to certain stimuli.”
Case of especially sensitive people
One of the first reactions we may experience when we find out that we are PAS in this internet test is to try search for more information. Read forums, buy books, join associations, or even look for a professional to visit us. In addition, if it does not occur to us to do this, we already have the test itself to advise it if we supposedly turn out to be PAS. What’s happening? That in general these books, associations or forums are associated with relatively small groups of people who practically earn a living from this.
Among them stands out the creator of the term, Elaine Aaron, but there are others. “When all the people who later talk about a topic have a commercial interest in it, the label is obvious,” Arake points out on the other end of the line. “If the test recommends that you go to psychotherapist specializing in PAS rare.” He also explains that most of the PSA experts, at least in Spain, ” Marketing or Human Resources and it also gives an idea of what kind of jobs these are, more geared towards people from high society.”
It’s better not to self-diagnose
In short, while it is logical that some people are more sensitive than others, in general there is no disorder associated with PAS. It has also not been proven that these are people with brains that work differently. And above all there is no proven way to measure this. In addition, having a business so closely associated with it makes you think a lot. However, this does not mean that if we feel that our feelings overwhelm us and make our daily life difficult, we need professional help.
I mean, it’s not uncommon to cry while watching a documentary about World War II. It is not uncommon to cry after a sentimental breakup. Nor is it surprising that we are overwhelmed when we receive many stimuli at the same time. We should not pathologize normal problems our day to day. But if these strong emotions come at unexpected times or stretch over time, you may need to see a psychologist. Not for being PAS, but for changing the behavior that makes us feel that way. Therefore, the main thing is not to pathologize the sensitivity. In fact, if we were all more sensitive and empathetic, the world might be a much better place.
Source: Hiper Textual
