However, according to psychologist Susan Krauss Whitbourne from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, even an apparent detail – the posture of the body – can give an indication. It draws attention to research according to which people who take large and open attitudes are more likely to show tendencies to take advantage of others. These strong attitudes are also related to traits such as psychopathy, manipulativeness, competitiveness or belief in social hierarchies.
It is based on a study by scientists from McGill University in Canada, who investigated the relationship between posture and personality traits. The research included 608 young adults. In four parts, participants sent photos of their natural postures, in the fifth phase, scientists recorded physical measurements in the laboratory. The results show that people standing more upright scored higher on traits associated with psychopathic tendencies. Moreover, these behavioral patterns were stable over time.
“One of the main telltale signs that someone wants to control you is an open, upright, and extended posture. Someone who is ready to give in is more likely to slouch and withdraw,” Whitbourne said. Psychopathy includes antisocial, manipulative, and callous traits, such as fearlessness, superficial charm, and a lack of empathy. People with these signs are often described as cold, risk-taking and without a conscience.
In the next part of the study, the participants assumed dominant or submissive positions. Submissive positions included hunched shoulders and forward bending, while dominant positions meant standing upright with the pelvis forward and the torso slightly tilted. However, according to the scientists, the change in attitude did not affect the psychological state. Not every upright person is a psychopath. “What if you’re the type of person who just naturally stands up straight?” asks Whitbourne, adding that people with lower levels of undesirable traits alternate between different attitudes and don’t try to appear dominant all the time.
