Buzz
The concept of 'power poses,' which suggests that adopting confident body language can alleviate stress and enhance performance in high-pressure scenarios, has been discussed multiple times. However, one of the key researchers behind this idea has completely reversed her stance, and we should too—unless it personally works for you.
Social Psychologist Amy Cuddy, who initially introduced the idea of power poses alongside co-author Dana Carney, has seen her collaborator recently disavow the concept. Carney now states that replicating the original study results is nearly impossible and that she no longer believes in the validity of power poses or their effects, effectively dismissing the idea entirely. The Science Of Us delves deeper into this shift in their article (linked below).
Another researcher has joined the ranks of skeptics, and this one is hard to overlook: a co-author of the original paper. Recently, Carney, now a professor at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, published a document on her website openly expressing serious doubts about power poses for the first time.
The main point, which she highlights and emphasizes in bold, is: 'I do not believe that 'power pose' effects are real.' Carney provides intriguing details about how she reached this conclusion, noting that her skepticism stems not only from failed replication attempts but also from regrets about certain decisions made during the original research process.
She explains that the study's findings were 'p-hacked,' meaning the data was manipulated to appear more robust and reliable than it truly was. Additionally, she highlights that many participants were aware of the hypothesis being tested, which inherently undermines the results. This is how credible science operates: you propose an idea, validate it, and share the findings if they hold up. However, if subsequent tests fail to replicate the results or suggest alternative explanations, you must acknowledge the lack of evidence and revise your conclusions.
In summary, if using 'power poses' before significant events like presentations or speeches genuinely helps you, there's no downside. The adage 'fake it till you make it' predates this study and its controversies, and you might simply be experiencing the strong influence of a psychological placebo. If it doesn’t work for you, that’s perfectly fine—there’s no scientific evidence mandating its effectiveness.
Photo by Tom Bullock.
