Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

UP FOR A BRIT OF FUN - Survey reveals the UK is more impulsive than ever

It is official, us UK citizens are more spontaneous, fun-loving and confident than ever. In fact, the vast majority of us – nine out of 10 – act spontaneously at least once a month or more. This spontaneity ranges from simple acts such as buying a lottery ticket or getting a haircut to big decisions, such as buying a car or a house, and even getting tattooed.

HAPPY-GO-LUCKY

There's a direct relationship between happiness and spontaneity, which the research, commissioned by Vauxhall Corsa, clearly shows: a whopping 91 percent said that doing something spontaneous makes them feel happier. Sometimes this means life-changing actions – when asked what the most spontaneous thing they’ve done was, one woman replied: “Walking out on my husband after 28 years of marriage with nothing but the clothes on my back.” (1)


In fact, a huge number of us would be prepared to change our lives at a moment’s notice: nearly a third of us (28 percent) would pick up sticks and move to another country at the drop of a hat. Simple spontaneous acts can be just as liberating, as explained by one of the people quizzed, who described their happiest memory of a spontaneous moment: “I jumped into my car in the middle of the night, and drove 200 miles so I could see the sun rise from the deck of a friend’s yacht.” (1)

TEACHING US A THING OR TWO ABOUT LOVING LIFE

The results also reveal the true reasons behind people’s rash actions – pessimists look away now – 89 percent of us are most likely to act spontaneously when we are happy, and 80 percent of us will do so when we are in love. It also seems the French may have to fight for their reputation as Europe’s romancers: as almost one in ten (7 percent) of both men and women say they would propose marriage at the drop of a hat.


Our surging impulsiveness seems to be inspired by the nation’s 18-30 year-olds: 22 percent of them would be willing to walk out on an unsatisfactory job, and 45 percent of them would ask a stranger out on a date. Moreover, almost half (48 percent) of them would be perfectly happy to bungee jump, compared to just 11 percent of those aged 30 and over.


Shelley Perkins, at Vauxhall Corsa, says: “Us UK citizens can always be counted on to grab life by the horns – we are happy to take a chance on our journey through life and know how to enjoy the ride. It is clear that we are at our happiest when having some spur-of-the-moment fun.”


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· (1) Quotes from testimonials given as part of the research.
· The research was conducted amongst 1,000 people by MyVoice Research, on behalf of Vauxhall Corsa.
· For further info, contact Cian McKenna-Charley or Gloria Trapezaris at Cow PR on 0207 684 6969 or e-mail: corsa@cowpr.com