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Abstract

Ss were 8 groups of college students, 10 men and 10 women per group. Ss in each group were tested while in a standing, sitting-erect, sitting-bent, or supine posture. Enclosed box problems and the Uses of a Brick task were administered to 4 groups (one group in each body posture). The other four groups were administered an abbreviated TAT, a task requiring S to talk about himself, and a test of memory for posture-related words. Ss were tested individually. Number of problems solved, pace of talking, number of self-referent statements, and proportion of posture-related words remembered were significantly affected by posture. Sex differences were also significant for several measures. It was concluded that body posture influences several types of thinking and that the study of the influence of posture on behavior has theoretical value as well as implications for psychological testing, therapy, and education.

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Body Posture and Thinking

Abstract

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References