Researchers at the J.L. Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto recently found that sitting or standing up straight may help do more than strengthen the back and lead to better overall posture, it can also help an individual feel stronger and more confident.
In a study, a team of scientists found that people who stood in assertive positions – with their backs straight and chest out – had a tendency to feel more powerful and were better able to tolerate stress.
Participants also handled pain better than those who took a more submissive stance, which may be defined as having a rounded spine or drooping shoulders.
The findings revealed that curling up in a ball – also known as the fetal position – may exacerbate feelings of pain and discomfort. Authors of the study noted that this may be due to the fact that the pose could make an ill or injured person feel as though they have no control over their situation. They said that expanding the body may help people feel more in control, and therefore better able to tolerate an uncomfortable circumstance.
Standing up straight may also help to alleviate emotional pain, the research showed. The findings suggested that taking a dominant or assertive stance may improve personal development skills to deal with events that cause feelings of sadness or loss.
Authors of the study suggested that caregivers to ill or injured individuals should take a neutral or submissive posture when aiding their patients or loved ones, allowing them to take the dominant role and hopefully gain the benefits of such a pose.
Human brain potential is limitless, and these findings suggest that it is influenced by many nuances of everyday living, right down to how a person stands.
