“Double-Take”: 40 Posts Featuring Unexpected Plot Twists

Ever wondered what exactly goes on in our brains when we encounter something that surprises us? In this case, it could be looking through these photos that made you go, “wait, what?” 

According to Berkeley’s The Greater Good Science Center, there are four stages of surprise response: freeze, find, shift, and share.

As Greater Good explains, the freeze stage happens the moment we are stopped in our tracks for seeing or hearing something unexpected. The “Find” stage that follows is when we begin to decipher what’s going on and try to understand how it all happened. 

The Shift stage is when our perspectives begin to take shape and shift, typically in response to conflicting findings. The final stage, Share, is when we begin to share the feeling of surprise with others.

Surprising events also make learning new information much easier. According to Psychology Today, unexpected events trigger a surge of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter and hormone partly responsible for the fight-or-flight response. 

With the surge in norepinephrine comes increased focus and alertness, which ultimately promotes better learning.

Of course, no one wants ugly surprises. So if you want to invite more pleasant ones, here are some ways, as suggested by the Greater Good: 

1. Mix up your routines. Take the bus instead of driving to work or eat at a new restaurant. Unexpected changes may lead to new insights. 
2. Do something random for someone. Offer to wash the dishes, then clean out the fridge. The goal is to under-promise and over-deliver. 
3. Make a “struggle sandwich.” Simply put, take a big risk sandwiched between smaller risks that will likely go well. Doing so helps you connect risk-taking with something positive.

How about you, dear readers? Which of these images made you do the hardest double-takes? What about these photos caught your attention? We’d love to hear your insights in the comments below!