For children struggling with confidence, standing tall could be the secret to change

Dominant body postures, sometimes referred to as ‘power poses’ can help children to feel more confident, researchers from Martin Luther University (MLU) Halle-Wittenberg and the Otto Friedrich University of Bamberg have found. 

The study was recently published in the journal School Psychology International and provides initial evidence that simple poses can help children to project more confidence to their peers, therefore feeling more confident when they interact. 

“Body language is not just about expressing feelings, it can also shape how a person feels,” MLU researcher Robert Körner said. 

Up until now much of the research on body language and positioning has revolved around studying the effects on adults. The recent study is the first to examine children, showing that from the age of five years, most are able to recognise and interpret the body posture of others.

While the new study is consistent with earlier findings on power posing, the concept is somewhat controversial in the field of psychological research.