We’ve all had those moments when we’re scared to put our foot out from under the covers in the dark or wonder why our cat is staring at an empty wall like it’s something spooky. Our minds sometimes imagine threats that aren’t real – blame it on too many scary movies or stories. It’s just our brain’s way of protecting us, and that’s pretty normal.
So, the next time you see a shadow outside that looks like someone at the window, or you think there’s a stranger in your bed but it’s actually just a crumpled sheet, don’t panic and call 911 just yet – it might just be your imagination.
For some laughs, we’ve put together a list of funny pics about people getting spooked by unintentional jumpscares. Upvote the images that you could relate to the most. Oh, and ignore the weird chuckling behind you. Yup, it’s just the pile of clothes on your chair, not creatures from another dimension trying to unnerve you.
#1 Jesus, That’s Creepy
Image credits: LilyLaina
A jump scare is a trick often used in horror movies and video games. It also happens in life. It aims to scare people by suddenly showing something shocking on screen along with a loud noise. Think of this scare as a surprise bomb that horror movies toss right into your nerves. It can explode instantly or sit there ticking before it goes off. Jump scares aren’t loved by everyone, maybe because they appear simple, yet they can be skillfully done. The science behind jump scares is quite interesting, involving biology and psychology.
#2 This Tall Guy In My Neighbor’s Yard Always Scares The Hell Out Of Me… It’s 2 Small Trees And A Satellite Dish
Image credits: Chriscuits
#3 Our Airbnb Had A Translucent Bathroom Door. I’m Used To My Impatient Toddler Stalking Me Through The Door, But This Took It To A Much Creepier Level
Image credits: goodluck_canuck
Scientists who enjoy studying how people get startled have a term for scaring their lab subjects: “Administering a startle probe.” Despite the serious-sounding name, there’s a hint of mischievousness to it. This habit of playfully startling others likely dates back thousands of years, making it a favorite activity for our ancestors and an important part of suspenseful storytelling.
#4 Bottled Water’s True Nature
Image credits: zschultz
#5 My Daughter’s Stuffed Dog Rolled Under Her Bed. Checking The Monitor Gave Me A Damn Heart Attack
Image credits: dananky
#6 I Found This Child-Sized Rescue Dummy On The Bottom Of Lake Natoma, CA, And Thought I Was Going To Have A Heart Attack
Image credits: Merman_Mike
Sound plays a vital role in jump scares. It’s what mostly triggers the startle, and it’s tough to avoid. Our brain reacts faster to sound than to sight, and it’s harder to ignore a sound than an image.
The startle scare often includes both something you see and something you hear – like a sudden appearance of something unsettling. While the sound is what startles you, it’s the visual part that tends to stay in your mind. You might not recall the exact sound, but the image can leave a lasting impression. Our brain handles sound and images differently, and images are usually more memorable. In a jump scare, the visual element is typically a monster, a killer, or something gross abruptly showing up.
#7 I Woke Up After Taking A Short Nap In The Passenger Seat And Nearly Had A Heart Attack When I Opened My Eyes
I was sure for about 2 seconds that we were all about to crash until I realized it was being towed backwards!
Image credits: kara-foster10
#8 Just Some Regular Rubber Gloves Washing Accidentally Opened The Gate Of Hell
Image credits: green1
#9 For Halloween I Had An Inflatable Cat On My Roof. Last Night It Was Very Windy. This Is What Greeted Me When I Opened The Door This Morning
Almost had a heart attack.
Image credits: bubonis
The jump scare triggers what’s known as the startle response, a natural reaction ingrained in human nature. This response is so deeply rooted that it’s shared across various species. Ronald C. Simons, an anthropologist and expert on the startle response, notes that it’s “universal in mammals, reptiles, birds, and amphibians.” This response is like an automatic reaction to a sudden and strong stimulus. This stimulus can come through sight, sound, or touch. It might be something that unexpectedly appears in your vision, a sudden loud noise, or a touch on your neck when you thought you were alone in a dim basement. The startle response developed as a defense against sudden threats, activating the body swiftly when faced with danger.
#10 You Get Afraid Thinking These Are Ku Klux Klan Members Until You Realize They Are Only Closed Parasols In The Beach
Image credits: reddit.com
#11 Almost Had A Heart Attack Coming Out Of The Subway Today
Image credits: Indy4exe
#12 Every Morning At 11 Or So, Window Man Shows Up And Scares The Bejesus Out Of Me (My Neighbor’s Chimney)
Image credits: audiocranium
Startling someone is easy because the mechanism reacts quickly for good reasons. It’s like being scared – it often goes beyond what’s needed because it’s safer to react strongly (like jumping at shadows) than to not react to something dangerous (like ignoring a real threat).
#13 My Friend’s Way Of Drying Shoes Scared Me A Bit. I Thought She Was Hanging Out Her 11th-Floor Window
Image credits: amandalauren16
#14 Woke Up Scared Stiff Last Night When I Noticed A Victorian Ghost Floating At The End Of My Bed. Took Me A Few Minutes To Realise It Was My Clothes On The Door
Image credits: sesse301187
#15 Poorly Colored Garden Hose Guaranteed To Give You A Heart Attack
Image credits: rocketman1706
Also, the startle response isn’t something you can control with your thoughts. You can’t turn it off or lessen it even if you expect it. If you’ve ever fired a loud gun, you know this. And if you’ve watched a scary movie more than once and still got scared at the same part, you’ve experienced it, too.
#16 Almost Got Me A Heart Attack Middle Of The Highway
Image credits: Xorneluse
#17 Just Walked Out Of My Kitchen And This Scared The Hell Out Of Me
Image credits: IAmSunno
#18 Canal In Copenhagen Nearly Gave Me A Heart Attack
It’s a sculpture called, “Agnete and the Merman” based on the same Danish fairytale, and hidden in that canal. Merfolk are a part of Danish folklore.
Image credits: reddit.com
Optical illusions, on the other hand, can scare people because they play tricks on how we see things. They make us doubt what’s real and sometimes see things that aren’t there. This can make some people feel uneasy.
#19 The Reflection Of The Fireplace Freaks Me Out For Just A Second Every Time
Image credits: OldSchoolNinjaa
#20 There Was No Child In The Back Seat. Scared The Bejesus Out Of Me
Image credits: dr–moreau
#21 My Daughter Just Came Around The Corner Wearing A Lavender Face Mask And Scared The Absolute Hell Out Of Me
Image credits: a-light-at-the-end
In the end, the most effective way to deal with jump scares and optical illusions might be to view them with an artistic and appreciative mindset. Consider them as a creative technique. If you’re interested in seeing more optical illusion pictures that nearly scared the life out of people, take a look at our previous editions here and here.
#22 My Neighbor Is Trying To End Me By Heart Attack
Image credits: neverfarts
#23 Moving Furniture Around The Store And Glanced Over To Have This Scare The Hell Out Of Me. I Thought It Was A Customer
Image credits: cjones782
#24 This Is How My Husband Left His Boots. It Almost Scared The Hell Out Of Me
Image credits: haaslei
#25 Not Sure Why Your Cousin Was Freaked Out By Their Baby Monitor – This Is What Shows Up On Mine Every Night
Image credits: Mindwolf77
#26 My Grandma Made A Knitted Toilet Seat Cover And The Corner Sticks Out A Bit, Nearly Gave Me A Heart Attack
Image credits: ImAnAnwsomeGuy
#27 My Celeriac Scared The Hell Out Of Me
Image credits: Prefect01
#28 This Poster Of “Mr. Rodgers” At Work Gave Me A Heart Attack
Image credits: Garruk82
#29 Creepy Statues All Over Town Made Me Nearly Pee My Pants At 2 Am
Image credits: TheCharlienator
#30 Being An Asian, Seeing This At The End Of The Hallway When The Elevator Doors Open Scared Me Quite A Bit Because Of The Folklore Of The Ghost Lady In Red
Image credits: moreice45
#31 A Friend Of Mine Is A School Bus Driver And Nearly Had A Heart Attack When A Bread Truck Pulled Up Behind Her
Image credits: fightingdove
#32 They Scare The Hell Out Of Me Every Time They Sleep Like This… I Keep Thinking One Has Passed Away And The Other Is Mourning Him
Image credits: Penguinz90
#33 I Hung My Chest Waders In My Shop To Dry. Nearly Gave My Poor Dad A Heart Attack
Image credits: mogto
#34 Girlfriend Taking The Dog Outside And The Bad Amazon Solar Lights Illuminating Her Face
Image credits: KennKennyKenKen
#35 Checked My Cameras And This Blanket Almost Gave Me A Heart Attack
Image credits: dirtbagdano
#36 Scared The Daylights Out Of Me
Image credits: blinkysg
#37 I Got So Freaked Out This Morning With My Wife’s Cooking. Turns Out Long Beets Can Closely Resemble Skinned Rats
Image credits: substorm
#38 Just Me And The Baby At Home, I Looked At The Baby Monitor And Had A Heart Attack
Image credits: joshuajames89
#39 My Daughter Legitimately Scared Me When I Checked Her Monitor
Image credits: murdoc913
#40 Almost Had A Heart Attack When Turning The Lights On In This Abandoned Storage Room
Image credits: rightbigtoe
#41 Boots And A Coat… Scares The Everliving Hell Out Of Me Whenever I Leave The Basement
Image credits: beeetleboy
#42 I Saw This In My Neighbor’s Backyard
Image credits: svgethings
#43 Legit Scared Me On My Walk
Image credits: missmissie67
#44 Sculptures Of Heads In The Woods. Scared The Heck Out Of Me
Image credits: shibashroom
#45 Brushing My Teeth At The Sink, Almost Had A Heart Attack With This Reflection
Image credits: tap_water_wolf
#46 My Mom Washed My Snuggie And Hung It Up In My Room, Almost Had A Heart Attack
Image credits: Snaps4
#47 I Have A Fake Alligator Head In My Yard And Today While Taking My Dog Out It Scared Me
Image credits: ZachG03_
#48 I Just Launched My Spoon Across The Room And Screamed Like A Girl Because I Thought There Was A Spider In It
Image credits: kechlion
#49 My Chair Just Scared The Bejesus Out Of Me
Image credits: Cutter1998
#50 Just Opened The Garage At The Job I’m On And Had A Heart Attack
Image credits: reddit.com