Surprise – Responses, Mannerisms, Behaviors

Surprise can be good, bad or neutral and is normally followed quickly by a separate emotion. (Happiness, Anger, Sadness, etc...)

Some indications of Surprise are:

Outward

• Briefly raised eyebrows
• high raised eyebrows that curve
• tight skin between eyebrows and eyes
• wrinkled forehead (long horizontal across)
• wide open eyes
• white of eyes visible all around
• open mouth
• jaw dropped or slack so that it hangs loose
• sharp intake of breath
• gasp
• yell, shriek, scream
• jump
• physical trembling/shaking

Inwardly

• Stomach lurches (when surprise is negative)

Long term, a person may be more cautious in circumstances that caused surprise or may take more to be surprised again.

What other mannerisms, behaviors, or responses do you associate with surprise?