You’ve probably seen the video. It’s 2012, and a social psychologist named Amy Cuddy stands on a TED stage, telling millions of people they can change their lives just by standing like Wonder Woman.
The "power pose" was born.
It was the ultimate self-help hack. Simple. Free. Fast. All you had to do was stand with your hands on your hips or your arms stretched wide for two minutes, and boom—your hormones would shift, your confidence would skyrocket, and you’d crush that job interview. People loved it. It became one of the most-watched TED talks of all time.
Then, the floor fell out.
The Rise and Sudden Fall of the Power Pose
Science is messy. It's supposed to be. But what happened with the power pose amy cuddy research was more than just a typical academic disagreement. It became the face of the "replication crisis" in psychology.
Back in 2010, Cuddy and her co-authors, Dana Carney and Andy Yap, published a study that seemed to prove a biological link between posture and power. They claimed that high-power poses didn't just make you feel better; they actually increased testosterone (the "dominance" hormone) and decreased cortisol (the stress hormone).
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The world went wild for it. It was the perfect "one weird trick" for success.
But when other scientists tried to repeat the experiment, they ran into a wall. A massive, 2015 study with five times as many participants found zero effect on hormones. Nothing. Zip. They found that while people felt more powerful, their blood chemistry didn't change at all.
Then came the blow that almost ended the conversation: Dana Carney, the lead author on the original 2010 paper, publicly disavowed the research. She posted a statement on her website saying, "I do not believe that ‘power pose’ effects are real."
Ouch.
Is It All Just a Placebo?
So, if the hormones don't change, is the whole thing a scam? Not exactly.
The debate shifted from "does this change your biology?" to "does this change your mind?" Most critics agree on one thing: people who power pose usually report feeling more confident.
Whether that's a "real" psychological shift or just a placebo effect is where things get sticky. If you believe standing like a superhero makes you brave, and then you feel brave, does it matter if your testosterone stayed the same?
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Some researchers, like Joseph Cesario at Michigan State, argue that feeling powerful doesn't actually translate to better performance. You might feel like a boss, but you don't necessarily act more effectively in a negotiation or a high-stakes meeting.
Basically, you’re just a confident person who is still failing.
Where Amy Cuddy Stands Today
Cuddy didn't back down when the academic world turned its back. While she acknowledged that the hormonal findings were shaky—she eventually moved away from those claims—she doubled down on the psychological benefits.
She calls it "presence."
She argues that by opening up our bodies, we stop our "inhibition system" from taking over. We stop hiding. We stop slouching. This, she says, allows us to be our most authentic selves under pressure.
Honestly, the backlash against her was brutal. There were accusations of "p-hacking" (a way of massaging data to get a significant result) and a lot of mean-spirited academic bullying. It turned a scientific question into a culture war within the halls of Harvard and beyond.
But as of 2026, the dust has settled a bit. A meta-analysis of over 70 studies suggests that while the "superpower" claims were overblown, the "postural feedback" effect is likely real. Your body tells your brain how to feel. It’s just not a magic potion.
Why the Slouch is the Real Enemy
If you want to look at the science objectively, the most interesting finding isn't actually about the "power pose."
It's about the "low-power pose."
While standing like Wonder Woman might only give you a tiny boost, slouching and curling up—what we all do while looking at our phones—has a measurable negative impact.
Contractive postures make us feel more stressed and less capable. We are basically "low-power posing" ourselves for eight hours a day.
Practical Ways to Use This (Without the Hype)
Forget about changing your hormone levels in two minutes. That's probably not happening. However, if you want to use the core of what the power pose amy cuddy movement taught us, there are a few sensible ways to do it.
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1. Check your "Phone Neck" before meetings. If you’ve been hunched over a screen right before a big call, your brain is already in a submissive, stressed state. Stretch out. Take up space. Not because of "science," but because it physically feels better to breathe.
2. Focus on "Openness" over "Dominance." You don't need to be aggressive. Just don't be small. Uncross your arms. Keep your chin up. It’s about being approachable and present, not about trying to dominate the room.
3. The Two-Minute Reset. If you’re feeling impostor syndrome creeping in, find a private spot and just... expand. It's a mental reset button. If it makes you feel 5% more composed, that's a win, regardless of what the lab results say.
4. Watch for the Backfire. Research from the University of Pennsylvania suggests that "faking it" can actually backfire if you feel like a total fraud while doing it. If a pose feels ridiculous to you, don't do it. Find a posture that feels like a "stronger version of you," not a "cartoon version of a hero."
The saga of the power pose is a reminder that we want easy answers. We want a two-minute fix for deep-seated anxieties.
Science usually says: it's more complicated than that.
The power pose isn't a magic wand, but it's also not total nonsense. It’s a tool. Use it if it helps you get through the door, but remember that the real work happens once you're inside.
To dive deeper into how your physical environment impacts your focus, you can audit your workspace for "low-power" triggers like low monitors or cramped seating that force you into a submissive slouch throughout the day.