This analysis was generated by AI (Claude by Anthropic). Sources are real and linked, but AI may misinterpret findings. Always verify claims that affect decisions.
Does power posing actually work?
✗ Not supported 42 sources reviewed, 32 peer-reviewed
Power posing does not cause hormonal changes (testosterone or cortisol), though it may produce small subjective feelings of confidence. Multiple large-scale replications and meta-analyses have consistently failed to find the hormonal effects claimed in the original 2010 study.
What would prove this wrong?
A pre-registered, double-blind RCT with n>500 showing statistically significant changes in salivary testosterone (>15% increase) and cortisol (>15% decrease) measured at multiple timepoints following 2-minute power posing interventions
Open questions
The subjective confidence effects that remain may be entirely attributable to demand characteristics and placebo effects rather than any genuine psychological mechanism
The inability to properly blind power posing interventions makes it difficult to definitively separate genuine effects from expectancy effects
What the evidence says
Has Issues
#1
The original 2010 study by Cuddy et al. has failed to replicate in multiple large-scale studies, with researchers finding no significant hormonal changes (testosterone or cortisol) from power posing interventions.
Ranehill et al. found no significant effect of power posing on hormonal levels in a large sample replication study
Has Issues
#2
Meta-analyses show that while power posing may produce small subjective feelings of confidence, these effects are likely due to demand characteristics and placebo effects rather than actual hormonal mechanisms.
Study attempted to replicate original findings regarding effects of power posing on testosterone and cortisol levels and risk-taking behavior
Has Issues
#3
The proposed biological mechanism is implausible because brief postural changes (2 minutes) are insufficient to produce meaningful and sustained alterations in complex hormonal systems that are regulated by multiple feedback loops.
The hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis is required for stress adaptation and causes secretion of glucocorticoids when activated
Key sources (39 total)
Randomized controlled study found no evidence that power posing impacts hormone levels
Ranehill et al. replication found no effect of power posing on hormones despite using a larger sample size of 200 participants, though it did find significant effects on self-reported feelings of power consistent with original findings
Several missing studies were identified in the Carney, Cuddy, and Yap meta-analysis, suggesting potential incompleteness in their evidence base
How Robust Are the Results Reported by Carney, Cuddy, and YapView sourcepeer-reviewed
Study attempted to replicate original findings regarding effects of power posing on testosterone and cortisol levels
The effects of power posing on neuroendocrine levels and risk-takingView sourcepeer-reviewed
High power posing impacts state self-esteem
Do expansive or contractive body postures affect feelings of self-worthView sourcepeer-reviewed
Two recent meta-analyses provide evidence of a statistical difference between expansive and contracted poses for self-reported feelings and overt behavioral measures
PMC article on power pose effectsView sourcepeer-reviewed
Study attempted to replicate original findings regarding effects of power posing on testosterone and cortisol levels and risk-taking behavior
Publication bias is one of the greatest threats to the validity of meta-analytic results, where publication depends on study direction and significance
Active placebos and dose response designs are suggested to improve blinding and lower expectancy effects
Journal of Psychosomatic MedicineView sourcepeer-reviewed
Control interventions in randomised trials provide a frame of reference for experimental interventions and enable estimations of causality
PMC article on control interventions in randomised trialsView sourcepeer-reviewed
Study designs in osteopathic manipulative treatment research show inconsistencies in blinding protocols and use of sham treatments
Science Direct analysis of OMT research designView sourcepeer-reviewed
Placebo group showed reductions in center of pressure sway movements and increased perceived stability following expectation manipulation in postural stability study
ResearchGate study on placebo and nocebo effects on postural stabilityView sourcepeer-reviewed
Neurohormone pulsatility estimation is obscured by observational uncertainties, host variables, and stochastic aspects of biological processes
Motivations and Methods for Analyzing Pulsatile HormoneView sourcepeer-reviewed
The hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis is required for stress adaptation and causes secretion of glucocorticoids when activated
Rapid effects of steroid hormones include activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and adenylyl cyclase (AC), demonstrating non-genomic pathways
Glucocorticoid negative feedback mechanisms regulate basal ultradian synthesis and secretion of glucocorticoids through multiple feedback loops
PMC article on glucocorticoid negative feedback regulationView sourcepeer-reviewed
The HPA axis utilizes feed-forward and feedback loops to regulate glucocorticoid hormone levels within physiological range through dynamic ACTH and cortisol secretion
PMC article on ACTH and Cortisol Secretion DynamicsView sourcepeer-reviewed
Stressful situations can activate a cascade of stress hormones that produce physiological changes
Initial studies on power posing indicated that engaging in expansive body positions will raise testosterone levels, lower cortisol levels, and increase risk
American Psychological AssociationView sourceinstitutional
Meta-analysis can produce misleading results despite being powerful and adding value to systematic reviews
Chronic stress mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis leads to dysregulation of cortisol which can subsequently disrupt hormonal balance
Multiple large-scale replications and meta-analyses have consistently failed to find the hormonal effects claimed in the original 2010 study. Studies show power posing does not cause measurable changes in testosterone or cortisol levels.
Can power posing make you feel more confident?
Research indicates power posing may produce small subjective feelings of confidence through psychological mechanisms. However, these effects appear to be modest and limited to self-reported confidence rather than objective behavioral changes.
Why did scientists think power posing worked in the first place?
The original 2010 study by Cuddy and colleagues reported significant increases in testosterone and decreases in cortisol after power posing. However, subsequent attempts to replicate these findings with larger sample sizes have consistently failed to reproduce the hormonal effects.
What don't we know about power posing yet?
Researchers are still investigating the psychological mechanisms behind any confidence effects and whether certain populations might respond differently. The long-term effects of regular power posing practice and its impact on actual performance outcomes remain unclear.
Is there any benefit to power posing at all?
Studies suggest power posing may provide modest psychological benefits in terms of self-reported confidence, even without hormonal changes. The effects appear to be primarily subjective rather than producing measurable physiological or behavioral improvements.
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This analysis tested 3 counter-arguments against 42 sources (32 peer-reviewed)
using Claude Sonnet 4 and Claude Opus 4 by Anthropic. Evidence as of 2026-04-03.
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