Good Posture Helps You Cope With Tough Situations
When we research the show, it’s amazing how many times we say, “Mom was right!” This time, she was right about good posture. A study in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found that people who stand up straight with their shoulders back are more confident and assertive than people who slouch. The same good posture also reduces feelings of pain.
Volunteers at The University of Southern California and The University of Toronto were asked to assume one of two different postures. The first group stood up straight, while the second slumped over and folded their arms across their chest. Each volunteer wore a blood pressure cuff, and researchers kept inflating it until the volunteer said it hurt too much to continue. Guess what? Those who stood up straight were able to tough it out longer than those who slouched with their arms crossed. Good posture also decreases levels of the stress hormone cortisol. So researchers say that standing up straight could reduce the discomfort from an emotionally painful experience, like a break-up or being fired.
