Want to Make Better Decisions? Check Your Posture

Mom Was Right: A new study out of McGill University suggests we all should’ve done well to listen to our parents when they told us to sit up straight. Sitting with good posture may lead us to feel more positive and take more successful risks, per the research. 

The Study: Nearly 200 participants were unknowingly encouraged to sit either upright or hunched, via the ergonomics of their desk setup, while completing a virtual balloon risk-taking game. Those who sat upright reported stronger feelings of pride and generally took greater — but more successful — risks, earning larger rewards. Those in the upright group also reported greater feelings of positivity on a post-test questionnaire. Researchers used video measurements to verify participants’ posture and found most people didn’t realize their posture had been manipulated.

Takeaway: The findings suggest that sitting with improved posture enhances mood and influences decision-making.

Keep in Mind: The observed effects were small, and they occurred under controlled conditions, so they may not translate to real-life scenarios. Still, the results say a lot about how our physical lives can manifest in our emotional lives.