Have you ever thought about your body posture as a determinant of your character? The way we stand, sit, and walk has more implications for our personality and happiness than we realize.
According to recent scientific research, body language is closely related to behavior. In this sense, the way we move (and remain still) affects how others see us, as well as our mood and habits.
Is it possible that something so mundane and personal can be such an important element in expressing our way of being and interacting with others? Several theorists demonstrate this, and you can read about it below.
Research on posture and body language
Ohio State University sought to demonstrate, through research conducted in 2003, that posture and body language affect our thinking , our character, and influence our own and others' decision-making. Among the most revealing data from the study was the following:
- When participants nodded in agreement or disagreement, these actions affected their opinions without them realizing it, because in some "unconscious" way they were self-validating their thoughts.
- When participants hugged themselves, they reported feeling they could reduce their physical pain.
Among other theories about body language and behavior , Dutch scientist Erik Peper has also conducted extensive research. According to his studies, fear, anger, and other strong emotions can be reflected in human posture (spine position, open and/or closed hands, eye and head movements, among others).
For this theorist, it is no coincidence that soldiers train their physiques by keeping them perfectly aligned, as this would be intended to demonstrate power and discipline to their troops, the enemy, but above all to themselves.
Maintaining good posture sends a positive emotional message to our brain. Erik Peper believes that empowerment is possible through body positioning, which is why he believes it's essential to educate ourselves and change our poor posture habits.
Another recent study published in the scientific journal Gait Posture supports the Dutch scientist's theory, but added a new factor to the equation: depression. They investigated whether there was any association between poor back posture and the recurrence of depressive episodes in a group of 136 patients. Indeed, those most affected had a spinal curvature that worsened the condition.
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Things that happen when we change our posture
The items mentioned are based on the study conducted by Erik Peper and what his patients demonstrated through experience.
- When we sit up straight we are more likely to recall positive memories or think about something positive in general.
- If instead of walking slowly we jump during breaks, we can significantly increase our energy level.
- Those who were more affected by depression before the study had more energy drain than the others.
How to improve posture?
Now that we're aware of all this, how do we begin to enjoy better health and well-being, and therefore, to be happier? It's difficult to know exactly, but what we can know is that many areas of the body can hurt when we have poor posture , and we must educate ourselves to prevent this from happening.
You may not know this, but the list of consequences poor posture can have on your physical, intellectual, and emotional health is very long. If you're interested in learning more, you can find the full list in this article. Click here.
It's true that many of us today lead sedentary lives, and have jobs that require us to spend long hours sitting at a desk or standing for many hours, and this may not be very helpful for our ergonomics. Therefore, knowing how to sit and stand is very important and beneficial for our health.
That being said, the human body is designed to move, not spend eight hours in front of a computer. For that reason, walking will greatly help the body and improve the posture of the spine, so it's recommended to stand up at least twice an hour .
Maintaining a neutral pelvic position with a straight back will keep the vertebrae in your back aligned correctly. This will take a lot of pressure off your spine and back muscles, helping to reduce back pain. 
According to the studies mentioned here, it would be more than clear that the position of our back has a direct relationship with the psyche and emotions , because when we alter our body language, this would subconsciously influence our thinking and our decision-making.
It's a matter of ensuring a better quality of life in every possible way , even in something we often consider unimportant, such as the way we navigate our daily lives. What do you think? Do you want to start changing it?
