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Posture affects testosterone and cortisol levels, says this study.

"simply holding one's body in expansive, "high-power" poses for as little as two minutes stimulates higher levels of testosterone and lower levels of cortisol" -- Power Posing: Fake It Until You Make It

That's what I call a paleo hack!

Question: What are some related studies and/or experiences?

  • example: smiling and physiology/phsychology
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 just looking at women's picutes who are attrative can increase testosterone and cortisol as well – The Quilt Feb 26 2011 at 12:38
looking at attractive women increases cortisol? does that mean they cause stress? ha ha ;) – texasleah Feb 26 2011 at 18:21
texasleah - Never! I think Dr. K meant sexual attraction increases testosterone and decreases cortisol. Though I could see cortisol going up too if its an encounter causing stress. I would like to see any of this in a study. – sean Feb 26 2011 at 19:29

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The psy.plymouth.ac.uk/research/ece/publications link given above is dead. For some reason, a search of it at that site redirects to Cambridge University Embodied Cognition & Emotion Laboratory here: http://www.psychol.cam.ac.uk/cece/research

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The VERY first thing I noticed when eating the paleo diet was that my back hurt all the time....what was happening was that my posture was in a correction phase.

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This is why yoga can have such dramatic effects on the body, way beyond it's value as mere exercise. I've known a few yoga teachers (all Ashtanga practitioners) who ended up with v high testosterone levels and almost excessive sex drives. Some yoga postures seem to be particularly powerful for dealing with depression and anxiety.

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Jon - Have more information on this. Like some of those postures and good series of postures to use? And possibly studies backing it. – sean Mar 26 2011 at 8:18
I have witnessed this too, with both men and women hardcore ashtanga yoga practitioners and teachers. They become energetic and highly sexed - to the point of trouble -- as well as thin and muscular. Other kinds of yoga (hatha, sivananda) are perhaps better for anxiety and general happiness because they don't juice you up quite so much. But it's amazing how even a single sun salutation can change your mood. And all the poses that open the chest (and counter the round shouldered desk slouch) seem to have a powerful cheering effect. – Jon Jun 14 2011 at 14:34
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IMO, those high power poses are also welcoming challengers so be prepared for that. I worked in finance the last 6 years and my old associate used to do this. I really really felt an urge to fight him every time he did it. When a peer tries to "alpha male" around another male they should be prepared for the other male to react back.

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Bring em on man! – Futureboy Mar 26 2011 at 18:06
absolutely true – Brandon Mar 27 2011 at 1:58
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Good topic. This study relates to the field of embodied cognition, whereby researchers have found links between physical state of the body and mental attitudes. Recent studies have found that:

Handing someone something that's warm (e.g. coffee) causes them to think of you as having a "warm" personality.

Holding something heavy while making a decision causes you believe that the decision you're making is "weighty."

Forcing someone to smile by having them hold a pencil in their mouth improves their mood.

Crossing your arms makes you more resistant to outside influence.

Physically stepping backwards a step seems to help you reevaluate things ("take a step back") mentally.

Feeling guilt can cause you to want to wash your hands.

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Nasty - Can you update your post to reference the study(s)? – sean Feb 27 2011 at 8:03
It should be noted that this kind of thing can be used for evil purposes, too. Anyone who works for "The-World's-Largest-Retail- Orwellian-Nightmare" can tell you that. – Helen Feb 27 2011 at 14:45
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 You can find lots of studies/discussion of EC here: psy.plymouth.ac.uk/research/ece/publications including some of the above. – David Moss Mar 30 2011 at 8:04
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My own experience bears this out. If I arrange my face into a little smile, like the "archaic smile" found in ancient Greek sculptures, I feel my mood lift in just a few minutes. Ditto with posture...when I hold myself errect and proud, I soon start to feel more confident and self assured.

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"Fake it 'til ya make it" is one of my favorite life lessons. – Elizabeth Feb 27 2011 at 4:35

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