What type of emotional response is often experienced as sudden, violent, and upsetting disturbance?

The type of emotional response characterized as a sudden, violent, and upsetting disturbance is shock. This reaction often occurs in response to traumatic or unexpected events, leaving individuals feeling disoriented or overwhelmed. Shock typically manifests quickly following a distressing incident, and its intensity can impede a person's ability to think clearly or function normally for a period of time.

In contrast, fear is more about a perceived threat and can be a more prolonged state compared to the immediate impact of shock. Anxiety, on the other hand, tends to be a chronic state of worry or apprehension rather than a sudden disturbance. Panic, while it can involve sudden onset and intense feelings, is marked by a feeling of imminent doom and may not always be associated with the violent disturbance that defines shock. Thus, shock is the most appropriate response to describe an immediate and jarring reaction to a distressing event.