People who had held power poses were more confident and willing to take risks.

People who held weak poses (2 min) were the opposite.

Power poses brought higher levels of testosterone, weak poses had more cortisol. Says Amy J. C. Cuddy, an Assistant Professor in the Negotiation, Organizations & Markets Unit at Harvard Business School. "In humans and other animals, testosterone levels both reflect and reinforce dispositional and situational status and dominance; internal and external cues cause testosterone to rise, increasing dominant behaviors, and these behaviors can elevate testosterone even further...[testosterone is] linked to adaptive responses to challenges."  

"Power holders show lower basal cortisol levels and lower cortisol

reactivity to stressors than powerless people do, and cortisol

drops as power is achieved."

"Low-power social groups have a higher incidence

of stress-related illnesses than high-power social groups

do, and this is partially attributable to chronically elevated cortisol."

The Bottom Line:  Be expansive with your body.  Increase your testosterone (relish challenge) and reduce your cortisol (let your immune system thrive).

Dr. Cuddy holds a PhD in Psychology from Princeton University and BA in Social Psychology from the University of Colorado. 

Works Cited

Cuddy, A. J. C. “Power posing: Fake it Until you Make it” Psychological Science, 2011. In Press.

Richmond, G. "Effective Communication: The Art of Getting Your Message Across" Committee on advancement of women in chemistry (COACh) Workshop. March 26, 2011. Anaheim, CA. Preceeding American Chemical Society (ACS), 241st National Meeting.