Sensitifs

Sensitifs is a term used in French-speaking discourse to describe people who report heightened sensitivity across sensory, emotional, and cognitive domains. The concept overlaps with the psychological construct known as sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), which characterizes a temperament trait involving deeper processing of stimuli and greater responsiveness to environmental cues.

Individuals identified as sensitifs may experience sensory input as more intense and may become overwhelmed by loud sounds, bright lights, crowds, or strong smells. They often have a vivid inner life, strong empathy, and tend to reflect carefully before acting. Many prefer meaningful, calm, and structured environments and may require longer recovery periods after intense social or sensory experiences. Sensitivité is not a disease but a variation in temperament that exists on a spectrum.

Origins and usage: The term is widely found in Francophone self-help, wellness, and online communities and is not part of formal psychiatric classifications such as the DSM or ICD. The academic counterpart remains SPS, a concept introduced and popularized in English-language psychology by researchers including Elaine Aron and colleagues. In Francophone contexts, sensitifs serves as a practical shorthand for describing a lived experience associated with SPS.

Relation to other traits: Sensitivity does not dictate personality type; sensitifs can be introverted, extroverted, or anywhere in between. The trait can be associated with both benefits—such as heightened creativity and empathy—and challenges, including increased vulnerability to stress or anxiety in demanding environments.

Management and support: Coping strategies commonly recommended include pacing, setting boundaries, time for solitude, mindfulness or grounding techniques, and creating environments that reduce overwhelming stimuli.

See also: Highly Sensitive Person, sensory processing sensitivity, temperament, introversion.