Originally from Alternatives to the High Cost of Litigation

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The Master Mediator series focusing on how emotions work at the bargaining table, dragging positive steps from the worst to maximizing the best to encourage agreement, also included columns exploring the impact of mixed emotions—the ones that can be positive or negative, depending on the circumstances.

The middle ground is this month’s focus: surprise, empathy, and humor.

SURPRISE

Surprise qualifies as an emotion, with potential emotional responses, and has distinct mental and physical characteristics.

It’s tricky. Surprise, like confusion, is initially neutral, not positive or negative. That, in part, is why most people, if asked to name emotions, miss it.