In the realm of therapy, practitioners are constantly seeking innovative methods to enhance their practice and better support their clients. One such area that has garnered attention is the use of bodily displays, specifically expansive and contractive displays, to facilitate approach action outcomes. Recent research by Elkjær et al. (2023) sheds light on how these bodily manipulations can impact emotional processes and motivate individuals to take valued actions.
Understanding Bodily Displays
Bodily displays refer to postures and movements that can influence our emotions and behaviors. Expansive displays, often associated with power posing, involve open and broad postures that convey confidence and approach tendencies. In contrast, contractive displays are characterized by closed and withdrawn postures linked to avoidance or withdrawal tendencies.
The study conducted by Elkjær et al. (2023) explored the effects of these bodily manipulations within a personally relevant context. Participants were asked to engage in either expansive, contractive, or neutral displays while facing a motivational conflict—a situation where they desired to take action but felt held back by anxiety or low energy.
Key Findings from the Research
- Expansive Displays Lead to Positive Outcomes: The study found that participants who adopted expansive displays experienced more positive emotions, increased approach action tendencies, reduced negative emotion variability, and fewer avoidance tendencies compared to those in the neutral control group.
- Contractive Displays Show Mixed Results: Contrary to expectations, contractive displays did not significantly decrease approach behaviors compared to expansive or neutral displays. However, they did not outperform expansive displays either.
- Main Effects Highlight the Importance of Motivation: Regardless of the type of bodily display, simply identifying a valued action and addressing the underlying motivational conflict proved beneficial for participants.
Implications for Practitioners
The findings from this study offer valuable insights for therapists looking to incorporate body language into their practice. Here are some practical applications:
- Integrate Bodily Displays into Therapy Sessions: Encourage clients to adopt expansive postures during sessions to foster positive emotions and motivate approach behaviors. This can be particularly useful for clients struggling with anxiety or depression.
- Consider Personal Relevance: When using bodily manipulations, ensure that the context is personally relevant to the client. This increases the likelihood of achieving meaningful outcomes.
- Explore Further Research: While this study provides promising results, further research is needed to explore the effects of bodily displays across diverse populations and settings. Encourage clients to experiment with different postures outside of sessions to see what works best for them.
The Path Forward
The potential of bodily displays in therapy is vast and largely untapped. As practitioners continue to explore innovative techniques, incorporating body language into therapeutic interventions could prove transformative for both therapists and clients alike.
If you're interested in delving deeper into this topic, consider reading the original research paper by Elkjær et al. (2023). It provides a comprehensive analysis of how bodily manipulations can be leveraged within a therapeutic context.
