Shock: quick facts
Shock is the abrupt, intense response to a sudden and unexpected event, often one that is upsetting or hard to absorb. It begins as a burst of surprise and can briefly overwhelm normal thinking, leaving a person…
Category
Basic emotions
Valence
Neutral
Emotion family / blend
Surprise
Typical triggers
Sudden unexpected news, abrupt events, dramatic reversals, the unforeseen
How it's expressed
Frozen posture, wide eyes, open mouth, sharp intake of breath, stillness
Sources: American Psychological Association — APA Dictionary: emotion; Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley — Emotions; Paul Ekman Group — Universal Emotions. Educational information only — not medical or psychological advice. See our sources & fact-check policy.