In fact 60% say they’ve had an involuntary physical reaction – like jumping, shouting or breaking into a boogie – when they get a nice surprise.
Behavioural psychologist Jo Hemmings said it’s down to ‘limbic reaction’, a surge of feel good chemicals like dopamine which triggers a physical response.
“This sense of joy can stimulate the body to experience the emotion physically,” she added. “It’s not a conscious decision, it’s the body’s spontaneous way of releasing that emotional energy.”
The survey was commissioned by Nationwide, which is giving more than four million members a reason to celebrate with a £100 bonus as part of its annual Fairer Share Day.
To mark the moment, unlikely dance duo Peter Crouch and Louie Spence have joined forces to show off their very different footwork on the floor.
England legend Peter, famed for doing The Robot, said: “When it comes to celebrating good news, it’s no secret that I’m one to bust out a few moves.
“Whether it’s scoring a game-changing goal or receiving a gift you didn’t know was coming, when that euphoria takes over you just want to move.”
Dance sensation Louie, who never needs an excuse to perform a plié, added: “Whether it’s a pirouette or the cha cha cha, dancing makes me feel alive – and there’s nothing like great news to make me want to move.”
The survey also revealed that two thirds of us believe life doesn’t deliver enough nice surprises, with our favourite types of good news an unexpected financial boost (67%), a flight upgrade (36%), bumping into a long-lost friend or loved one (30%) and being promoted at work (25%).
When asked how they’d spend an unexpected £100 reward, 35% said it was equivalent to the cost of a weekly food shop, 30% went for dinner with friends and 28% a day out with their family
Nationwide’s Chief Customer Officer, Catherine Kehoe, said: “Our annual Fairer Share Payment is bigger than ever this year and we are proud to be able to pay over four million of our members £100 each.
“Whether the good news gets our members punching the air, jumping for joy or dancing in the living room, we can’t wait to hear about their reactions.
“Fairer Share is just one way that Nationwide, as a member-owned building society and not a shareholder-owned bank, is able to make a difference by giving back more.”