In the ted talk “Your body languages shapes who you are,” by Amy Cuddy presents the idea of nonverbal high and low powers stances and how it can change the mindset. In the animal kingdom when an animal feels powerful they puff out their body and inclined to susceptible riskier situations. Unlike high power stances, a powerless stance creates a delusional mindset and making yourself smaller like folding your hands in or touching your neck. A research explains that blind people who have never seen body languages also do high power postures when they feel powerful in a situation. Cuddy says pretending to be powerful can make someone feel powerful.  She also explains that your own body language can change your mind depending on your stance. A powerful stance such as expanding your arms out can increases testosterone, known as the dominance hormone, by 20% and a 25% cortisol decrease, which is the stress hormone. Meanwhile, low power stances lose about 10% testosterone and a 15% increase on cortisol. Cuddy gives a preparation for a job interview and explains to find yourself time before an interview and do a couple of exercises like throwing your hands up like in a V-shape. “Fake it till you become it” and “Tiny tweaks can lead to big changes “ Cuddy says.

            It’s interesting how ones own body language can change the mindset and even lower or increase your hormones. Cuddy says powerful people are more likely to take risk or gamble and I have actually tested this theory on my friend a few times on poker night. My conclusion is that he seems to bet big when I give a subtle body language that goes to my demise of losing but of course he’s a good bluffer. I am interested in body language and I note to myself with a few questions when I see other people’s stances. I have watched this ted talk before and I have done the exercises on my own and I know it works. My mindset has definitely changed before and after the exercises and as I am still “faking it.” Ted Talk by Amy Cuddy.