A positive photosensitive composition includes at least one compound that when exposed to actinic rays or radiation, generates any of the sulfonic acids of general formula (I) and a resin whose solubility in an alkali developer is increased by the action of an acid, wherein each of X1 and X2 independently represents a fluorine atom or a fluoroalkyl group, R1 represents a group with a polycyclic structure, provided that the polycyclic structure may have a substituent, and R2 represents a hydrogen atom, a chain alkyl group, a monocyclic alkyl group, a group with a polycyclic structure or a monocyclic aryl group, provided that each of the chain alkyl group, monocyclic alkyl group, polycyclic structure and monocyclic aryl group may have a substituent, and provided that R1 and R2 may be bonded to each other to thereby form a polycyclic structure.