Power posing, a topic of ongoing debate, continues to intrigue and divide opinion. We delve into the current state of this discourse, exploring the latest research, perspectives, and insights that shape our understanding of this fascinating subject.
Power posing or postural feedback is a technique that suggests how you hold your body influences how you feel and how you behave
Amy Cuddy’s research indicated that when people assume an open or expansive stance (make themselves appear taller and wider), they subsequently feel more powerful
- Other researchers have continued to study this phenomenon, and one study found children as young as fourth grade who assumed an expansive pose reported better student-teacher relationships and reported feeling more powerful than those who adopted a contracted pose
- More research has confirmed the effects are real, and a new generation of researchers is honing in on exactly how our posture and stance impacts our thoughts and behavior
Progress is still being made in this area, despite the pushback
There are still many unanswered questions and more work needs to be done
- O’Toole is grateful for the grant she received and the opportunity to further the research on postural feedback and obtain more answers to the most compelling questions
- She understands that the road ahead may have some bumps, and she will be prepared for the criticism
Advantages of Expanding
No corresponding benefit was found for getting big
- The context of the situation plays a critical role in whether it’s advantageous to contract or expand your body posture
- There may be times when a contractive pose provides the most benefits, and there are other situations where adopting what she calls an open pose instead of a dominant pose might be most beneficial
Some of the criticism of power posing has been constructive
It has led to the development of more robust studies and increased the scientific understanding of this phenomenon.
- Cuddy appreciates constructive criticism that furthers the science
- The most important thing is getting the science right and presenting the science accurately
- There’s plenty of evidence of this quashing
