MODULE BODY LANGUAGE
The impact on performance
Power
Amy Cuddy, a Harvard professor and social psychologist, is at the forefront of research into the effects of power posing. Carney, Cuddy, and Yap (2010) found that when a ‘high power pose’ is adopted, the hormone testosterone (associated with feelings of confidence and assertiveness) increases, while the hormone cortisol (associated with stress) reduces. The opposite effect was seen for a ‘weak power pose’.
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High Power Pose Stance - defined as being open, relaxed, and bigger (i.e. where you take up more space).
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Weak Power Pose Stance - defined as being closed, guarded, and slouched (i.e. where you take up less space).
Unfortunately attempts to replicate these results in subsequent research have been unsuccessful. As such, the initial findings have been widely disputed.
Feel the power
However, from the same 2010 study, high power posing was found to increase self-reported feelings of power. This finding has been replicated in numerous follow-up studies.
Schubert and Koole (2009) investgated the effect of making a fist had on self-ratings of power. Researchers asked participants to form the hand gesture of a rock or scissors, as in the rock, scissor, and paper game (a cover story was added so the participants did not work out the purpose of the study).
The participants then completed a series of questions (while maintaining their hand gesture), which included rating themselves on their self-concept of power and assertiveness. The results showed that when the male participants clinched their fist, they had more powerful self-concepts compared to the scissor hand gesture group. However, this effect was not seen for female participants.
The researchers suggested clenching one's fist was more closely related to male behaviour in regards to displays of power/physical force. However, they did question whether the effect of making a fist would see a similar response within female populations who are more accustomed to the use of physical force, e.g. sportswomen. As with any psychological strategy, it is worthwhile to analyse the effect on your own personal performance.
The moral of the story
There are many psychological benefits associated with enhanced feeling of power. Powerful individuals tend to be more positive, optimistic, enthusiastic, and confident - all aspects which are believed to assist sporting performance. Cuddy also suggested displaying positive body language may make it easier for people to recover from negative feelings (e.g. anxiety) because of its association with feelings of power, which would be useful within the pressure inducing environment of competitive sport.
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References
Carney, D.R., Cuddy, A.J., & Yap, A.J. (2010). Power posing: brief nonverbal displays affect neuroendocrine levels and risk tolerance. Psychological Science, 21(10), 1363-1368.
Schubert, T.W., & Koole, S.L. (2009). The embodied self: Making a fist enhances men's power-related self-conceptions. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 45, 828-834.