Is There a Link Between Sensory Processing Sensitivity and Entrepreneurship? Evidence from Three Perspectives^*

Neurodiverse individuals may have a proclivity for entrepreneurship for a variety of reasons, including an alleged fit with an entrepreneurial work setting that allows them to realize their strengths and accommodate their needs. Given the unique neural circuits seen in sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), we propose that people with high SPS (also referred to as highly sensitive persons [HSPs]) may be particularly capable of, or drawn toward, entrepreneurship. In this chapter, we discuss the link between SPS and entrepreneurship from three angles, based on a review of the literature and the presentation of new data. First, we relate SPS to the cognitive ability of entrepreneurial alertness (EA) to see if the deeper information-processing and above-average sensitivity to stimuli in SPS aids individuals in recognizing, evaluating, and developing entrepreneurial opportunities. Second, building on the idea that SPS may support individuals during the early stages of the entrepreneurial process, we examine the extent to which SPS stimulates future entrepreneurial career aspirations in young individuals and encourages them to take early steps in this direction, already during their studies. Finally, we demonstrate that self-awareness of SPS encourages individuals to pursue self-employment to design their work according to their own personal preferences and needs, and create an environment in which they can put their specific talents to use.