Novelty, unexpectedness and surprise: a conceptual clarification

ABSTRACT

This research note distinguishes between the concepts of novelty, unexpectedness and surprise applied in research on tourism experiences. In the existing tourism discourse, these concepts are used interchangeably, generating terminological ambiguity and conceptual confusion. However, in cognitive psychology, each term has a distinct and identifiable meaning. This short communication articulates and interprets each concept through the lens of feelings-as-information and cognitive appraisal theories. In cognitive psychology, novelty is an appraisal dimension influencing the intensity of emotion. Unexpectedness is explained as a conscious recognition that novelty or a feeling of surprise has been experienced. Surprise, on the other hand, is defined as an unconscious (emotional) state, as well as conscious awareness of the event associated with feelings, which occurs due to the mismatch between expectations and actual experience (leading to an appraisal of novelty). Each of these three concepts has neutral valence, and thus may be associated with both pleasant and unpleasant tourism experiences. Overall, this research demonstrates that the use of cognitive psychology can provide much needed conceptual clarity on mental processes which underpin travel behaviour and experience memorability.

KEYWORDS:

• Novelty
• surprise
• unexpectedness
• tourism experience
• emotions
• cognitive appraisal
• feelings-as-information

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Liubov Skavronskaya

Liubov Skavronskaya is a PhD scholar in USC Business School at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia. Her research interests include cognitive psychology and emotions, visitor experience design and tourism management.

Brent Moyle

Brent Moyle, PhD, is an Associate Professor at Griffith University, Queensland, Australia. His research primarily focuses on the sustainable management of tourism destinations, application of tourism in health studies, emotion and destination marketing.

Noel Scott

Noel Scott, PhD, is an Adjunct Professor at Sustainability Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast, Australia. He has extensive international tourism experience as a trainer, consultant, guest speaker, advisor and mentor. His research interests lie in tourism marketing; emotion studies and cognitive psychology.

Vikki Schaffer

Vikki Schaffer, PhD, is a Program Co-ordinator and Lecturer in Tourism, Leisure and Event Management, employs innovative approaches including social media, immersive technologies and real and virtual experiences to inform research, enhance student engagement and learning, and support industry development.