The way you sit may do more than support your back. A new study from McGill University suggests that posture could subtly influence how people feel and the decisions they make.
In a laboratory experiment involving nearly 200 participants, researchers found that people who sat upright reported more positive emotions and performed better in a task involving risk and reward than those who slouched or sat in a control condition, as per a Sciencedaily report. While the effects were small and observed under controlled conditions, the findings offer new evidence that physical position can influence mood and behavior.
Researchers changed posture without participants realizing it
The study, "Manipulating posture implicitly through environmental constraints influences mood and risk-taking behaviour," was led by Jorge Armony, a professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology at McGill University, together with graduate student Soren Wainio-Theberge, who developed the original idea for the research. It was published in the British Journal of Psychology.
Participants first completed computer-based tests before being asked to perform another task on a tablet. They were told the researchers were evaluating a mobile application, but the real purpose was to subtly influence how they sat.
For one group, the tablet was placed on a stand with an adjustable table, encouraging participants to sit upright. For another group, the tablet rested flat on a lower desk, encouraging them to lean forward and hunch over.
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Sitting upright was linked to better performance in a risk task
After their posture had been influenced, participants completed a game involving a virtual balloon. They could keep inflating the balloon to earn larger rewards, but if it burst, they lost everything from that round.
Participants in the upright group generally took greater risks and earned larger rewards over the course of the game.
According to Armony, the findings did not suggest that the upright participants behaved more impulsively.
He said, "This suggests they were not acting more impulsively but rather were engaging in more effective risk-taking," as quoted by Sciencedaily. he said.
Questionnaire responses also showed that participants in the upright group reported significantly stronger feelings of pride, an emotion associated with a more positive mood.
Study aimed to address concerns raised by earlier posture research
Scientists have long debated whether posture can meaningfully influence thoughts, emotions and behavior. The McGill researchers designed their study to address concerns raised by earlier "power pose" research.
Instead of telling participants how to sit, the researchers changed the environment so posture shifted naturally without revealing the study's true purpose.
After the experiment, most participants said they had not realized their posture had been influenced.
The team also used video software to measure each participant's neck angle, confirming that the physical setup produced the intended posture. The researchers noted that earlier studies had not often included this type of objective measurement.
Findings may have implications for everyday environments
The researchers cautioned that changing posture alone is unlikely to dramatically change someone's life.
However, they said the findings raise questions about whether ordinary environmental features, including workplace ergonomics, may have small but measurable effects on mood and decision-making.
