Amy Cuddy: Body Language Shapes Who You Are
"Body language grabs our attention and we are particularly interested in understanding the body language of others. What is that peculiar interaction, that smile or condescending look, perhaps a strange wink, or even just a handshake, telling us? In short, what does body language say to me? What does mine say to you?
We make broad judgments and deductions through body language. These judgments can foretell the outcomes of significant and vital situations, such as whom we will hire, promote, or even ask out on a date. For example, Nalini Ambady, a researcher at Tufts University, showed that when people watched 30-second silent videos of doctor-patient interactions, their judgments about the doctor's politeness predicted whether that doctor would be sued in the future. So, it's not about whether the doctor is competent but whether they appeal to us and how they interact. A more striking example, from Princeton's Alex Todov..."
The above passage is an introduction to Amy Cuddy's compelling talk. I highly recommend watching it. My takeaway is this: We now know that we should set aside the mind-body division approach. There is a reflexive relationship between emotions, thoughts, and our body, and if we want to change something in any of them, we can start with any of them. This message especially goes out to my students :)
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