Surprise, an instinctive emotion, is a reaction to an unexpected event or sound or a deviation from the norm. It can be pleasant or unpleasant and range in intensity. Of the seven instinctive emotions, surprise is the shortest feeling. For a fleeting moment, you experience something that you do not remember or expect. In surprise, positive or negative, your body freezes for milliseconds.
Why is surprise important?
Surprise is important because it is an emotional signpost, an alarm bell to motivate you to assess the situation. Studies in infants have shown that surprise is an important learning cue. It is thought that the purpose of surprise is to focus attention, both in mind and body, to assess the situation.
Can surprise cause a heart attack?
Surprise will affect your heart and increase blood pressure. Studies in John Hokpins have revealed that sudden emotional stress, such as a big surprise can cause a short reversible heart attack. A study(Aug 2021) by Marret K Noordewier Daan et al published in ‘Biological Psychology’ looking at the physiological effects of surprise, proved that your heart rate is slower, during the state of surprise and for a few seconds after surprise. It also revealed that your systolic and diastolic blood pressure increases. In the case of negative surprises, the results revealed that systolic blood pressure increased for longer.
Why is surprise important in a relationship?
Surprise in a relationship is important as it can spark desire, which needs mystery, something unexpected just like surprise. Science says that surprise intensifies the follow-on emotions such as happiness and joy. The act of creating a surprise for someone shows that you have thought about them. It has, of course, to be a positive surprise. Surprising your man with an unexpected pregnancy may not have the desired outcome.
How to surprise your boyfriend or girlfriend?
A surprise has to be something that they will not expect, be it an event or a party or something that they do not know about you. If your sex life has waned somewhat, then sex would be a surprise. Other ways to create a surprise is with tickets to a favourite game or hobby or travel or a gift for not particular reason.
Surprise is a fleeting sense triggered by something unexpected. An alarm bell that motivates us to assess the situation.
Of the seven instinctive emotions, surprise is the shortest feeling. For a fleeting moment, you experience something that you do not remember or expect. In the case of an unexpected sensory experience, like a sound, you feel startled, your body reacts.
For more information about Surprise you might be interested in these other articles:
What is Surprise? Understanding Surprise / Surprise Explained
How does Surprise affect your Body?
How does surprise affect your mind?
How does surprise affect your soul?
What hormones are connected to Surprise?
