# Does power posing work?
Possibly. The evidence is mixed, emerging or strongly context-dependent.
Source: https://orcalicious.com/orcapedia/wellness/does-power-posing-work
## Quick Answer
Possibly. The evidence is mixed, emerging or strongly context-dependent. There may be a real effect for some people, but it is usually smaller and more specific than the marketing suggests.


## Key Data Point
The original 2010 power-posing study by Carney, Cuddy, and Yap reported that expansive postures shifted testosterone and cortisol levels; a larger 2015 replication by Ranehill and colleagues failed to reproduce those hormonal findings, and one of the original study's own co-authors later publicly disavowed the hormone results.
## What Is It?

Power posing refers to holding an expansive, open body posture — such as standing with hands on hips or feet apart — for one or two minutes before a stressful situation like a job interview or presentation. It was proposed as a simple, private pre-performance ritual requiring no equipment.


## Why Do People Believe It Works?

The idea was launched by a widely viewed 2012 TED talk by psychologist Amy Cuddy, which cited hormonal changes from expansive posture and became one of the platform's most-watched talks. It's been adopted in career-coaching and interview-prep content as a quick, low-effort hack for feeling more assertive before high-stakes moments.


## What Does the Evidence Say?

Possibly. The evidence is mixed, emerging or strongly context-dependent. There may be a real effect for some people, but it is usually smaller and more specific than the marketing suggests.

Relevant mechanisms: **expectation, communication, memory, attention, attribution, self-fulfilling behaviour and context**.

The marketing team has finished its trial. Science is still recruiting.


## Why It Can Feel Convincing Anyway


### Regression to the mean

People often start a new intervention when a symptom is unusually bad. Many fluctuating symptoms naturally move back toward their usual level. If a new product was started at the low point, ordinary improvement can look like a treatment effect — the timeline is simply flattering the newest object in the bathroom.


### Confirmation bias

Once someone has invested money, attention and hope, the mind naturally notices confirming evidence. Good day after starting: it worked. Bad day: probably needs another week. No change: maybe the dose is wrong. This is why predefined outcomes and stop rules matter — they protect the experiment from becoming a subscription.


### Placebo and context are not "imaginary"

Expectation, attention, previous experience, ritual, sensory cues and other simultaneous behaviour changes can all influence subjective outcomes such as pain, sleep quality, stress, energy and mood. Subjective improvement alone can't tell us which mechanism caused it — that's what a comparison group is for.


## Safety

A personality or relationship framework should never be used to excuse coercion, abuse or unsafe behaviour.
## Selected References

- [American Psychological Association — Topics](https://www.apa.org/topics)
- [NCCIH — Meditation and Mindfulness](https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/meditation-and-mindfulness-effectiveness-and-safety)

## Related Reading

- [Does shadow work work?](/orcapedia/wellness/does-shadow-work-work)
- [Are love languages scientifically valid?](/orcapedia/wellness/are-love-languages-scientifically-valid)
- [Does journaling work?](/orcapedia/wellness/does-journaling-work)
> This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Discuss with a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new supplement, device or practice, especially if you take medication or have a medical condition.
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+&go — The Italian Placebo Company. Satirical wellness brand; zero active pharmaceutical ingredients, by design. This article is general education, not medical advice. Full disclaimer: https://orcalicious.com/for-agents