Without you noticing: how body posture determines your success

A new study from McGill University, published in the journal "British Journal of Psychology", examined the surprising connection between body posture and our mood and behavior. The findings show that the way our body is positioned affects the way we feel and act.

As part of the experiment, the researchers asked nearly 200 participants to work on a tablet. Without the subjects knowing, the tables and equipment were designed to make them sit in different ways: one group sat upright, while the second group leaned forward in a hunched position.

Afterward, the participants played a computer game where they had to decide when to stop inflating a virtual balloon to earn money without the balloon popping. The results showed that those who sat upright took smarter risks and earned more money throughout the game, and also reported feelings of pride and a more positive mood compared to the second group. In interviews conducted afterward, most of the participants admitted that they did not notice at all that their posture had been changed intentionally.

For many years, scientists have debated whether body postures can truly change our way of thinking, with previous studies receiving criticism because the subjects knew what was expected of them. In the current study, the researchers managed to bypass the problem through a subtle environmental change, and the findings indicate that the design of our workspace and office equipment may affect our emotions and decision-making in daily life in hidden ways.