Science Fictions Episode 99: Power posing
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Mar 31, 2026 A deep dive into the rise and fall of power posing, from viral TED fame to scientific reappraisal. They trace the original small-study claims about posture, hormones and confidence. Replication attempts, statistical criticisms and public backlash get sharp attention. The conversation ends by weighing what, if any, simple posture advice remains.
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Power Posing's Big Claims Came From A Tiny Study
- Power posing claimed tiny posture changes could drive hormones, risk-taking, and confidence.
- The 2010 paper (N=42) reported higher testosterone, lower cortisol, more risk and greater self-reported power after one-minute expansive poses.
Power Posing Exemplified Pre-Replication Era Psychology
- The power posing story exemplifies broader pre-2011 social psychology trends that favored flashy single studies and broad storytelling.
- Tom and Stuart link this era to priming, metaphors, and weak inferential practices prevalent then.
Amy Cuddy's TED Talk Turned Power Posing Into A Cultural Phenomenon
- Amy Cuddy's TED Talk became one of the most-watched talks and launched a bestselling book and corporate adoption.
- Zappos employees and UK Conservative politicians publicly tried power poses after the publicity.
