Posture can influence your mood and behavior, study suggests
A person's posture appears to affect their emotions and decision-making ability more than they realize, according to new research from McGill University. In a recent study, participants sitting upright performed better at a risk-taking task and reported more positive feelings than did their peers in the slouching or control groups.
New research from McGill University suggests that a person's posture can impact their emotions and decision-making abilities more than they realize. In a study involving nearly 200 participants, those who sat upright performed better on a risk-taking task and reported more positive feelings compared to those who slouched or were in a control group.
The effects were modest but still notable in a laboratory setting. Study author Jorge Armony, a professor at McGill, noted that the findings highlight the body's influence on our mood and behavior. The research involved participants completing a risk-taking task on a tablet, with some encouraged to maintain an upright posture and others forced to slouch.
Participants in the upright posture took greater risks and earned more rewards, indicating more effective risk-taking rather than increased impulsivity. Armony emphasized that while the findings do not suggest drastic life-changing transformations, they do raise questions about how everyday environmental factors, such as workplace ergonomics, might subtly influence mood and behavior.
Participants were unaware that their posture had been manipulated, and researchers used video software to assess posture conformity. The study was published in the British Journal of Psychology.
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