Sensitivity is Not a Superpower (with Scott Barry Kaufman)
I’ve always felt slightly uncomfortable about the way “superpower” is used to describe normal human traits.
Last year, Scott Barry Kaufman wrote an article for Psychology Today responding to a study examining links between high sensitivity and vulnerable narcissism. Subsequent research has highlighted the misappropriation of the sensitive trait “as a superpower” to wield in certain contexts.
I spoke with Scott for this episode of The Gentle Rebel Podcast.
Scott Barry Kaufman is a humanistic psychologist exploring the depths of human potential. He received his PhD in cognitive psychology from Yale University and an M.Phil in experimental psychology from Cambridge. He has taught courses on intelligence, creativity, and well-being at Columbia, NYU, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Scott is the author of Ungifted, Wired To Create, Transcend, and Choose Growth. He hosts The Psychology Podcast. In 2015, he was named one of “50 Groundbreaking Scientists who are changing the way we see the world” by Business Insider. Visit Scott’s website to learn more about him and his work.
