Why Do We Feel an Electric Shock When We Touch Another Person? Science Explains

Almost everyone has experienced it at least once.

You reach out to touch someone’s hand, shake hands, or brush past another person—and suddenly, zap! A sharp, surprising electric shock jumps between you. It may be small, but it’s enough to make you flinch, laugh nervously, or wonder what just happened.

Was it static electricity?
Is it dangerous?
Why does it happen more in winter?
And why does it sometimes seem stronger between people than objects?

Science has clear answers—and they’re far more fascinating than most people realize.

What We Call an “Electric Shock” Isn’t Always What It Seems

First, it’s important to clarify something.

When you feel a brief shock from touching another person, you are not being electrocuted in the dangerous sense. What you’re experiencing is usually static electricity discharge, not the kind of electrical current that powers homes or appliances.

This type of shock:

• Is momentary
• Involves very low current
• Is generally harmless

But despite being harmless, it feels intense because it stimulates nerve endings suddenly.