Psychopaths are notoriously hard to spot, often slipping under the radar thanks to their charm, manipulation skills and uncanny ability to mimic normal human emotions.
But a prominent psychologist says one subtle pose could reveal clues about the personality disorder.
Susan Krauss Whitbourne, a professor emerita of psychological and brain sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, said research shows that people who adopt large, open poses are more likely to exploit others.
Exaggerated stances were also linked to traits such as psychopathy, manipulativeness, competitiveness and belief in social hierarchies.
In her Psychology Today report, Whitbourne highlighted research from McGill University in Canada that found links between certain poses and personality traits associated with psychopathic tendencies.
She explained that these included raising the fists, moving the torso backward, curving the lower back or ‘lordotic’ posture, receptiveness in female mammals and arching the back.
‘One major set of cues that can tip you off about someone’s intention to boss you around is an open, erect, and expanded posture,’ Whitbourne shared.
‘Someone who is ready to give in to another person is more likely to slump over and may close up a bit.’
Susan Krauss Whitbourne, a professor emerita of psychological and brain sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, said research shows that people who adopt large, open poses are more likely to exploit others (stock)
A psychopath refers to individuals with antisocial, manipulative and callous traits, like fearlessness, superficial charm and lack of empathy.
Often highlighting dramatic or criminal behavior, they are described as cold-hearted, risk-taking, and lacking conscience, sometimes classified into high-functioning or criminal types.
Researchers at McGill University carried out a series of five studies examining the relationship between posture and personality traits.
In four of the studies, participants submitted photographs of themselves standing in natural positions, while in the fifth, volunteers visited a laboratory where researchers recorded physical measurements.
In total, the research involved 608 young adults, according to Psychology Today.
Early findings revealed that people who stood in more upright positions tended to score higher on personality traits linked to psychopathic tendencies.
The researchers found that these posture patterns remained consistent over time, suggesting the behavior was stable rather than random.
A psychopath refers to individuals with antisocial, manipulative and callous traits, like fearlessness, superficial charm and lack of empathy.
In another phase of the study, participants were instructed to adopt either dominant or submissive stances.
Those assigned submissive positions stood with stooped shoulders and bent-forward postures, while those instructed to appear dominant stood upright with their hips pushed forward and torsos leaning slightly back.
However, researchers noted no evidence that simply changing posture altered a person’s mental state.
In the final stage of the research, scientists confirmed their earlier findings and expanded the range of personality traits examined.
These included psychopathy, manipulativeness, competitiveness and belief in rigid social hierarchies, traits researchers described as being associated with attempts to gain advantages over others.
The researchers suggested that individuals displaying more dominant postures may be driven by a strong desire to avoid appearing weak or subordinate.
They also noted that standing tall and projecting confidence can influence how others respond, potentially reinforcing dominant behaviors over time.
Whitbourne said: ‘What if you’re the type of person who just naturally stands straight?
‘Maybe you were fortunate enough to take dance lessons or participate in sports as a youngster, and a steady posture was one of those benefits.
‘The issue from the standpoint of this study is that people who don’t have this dominant orientation are able to vary their posture.
‘Those participants who scored lower on these undesirable traits adopted a wider range of stances rather than always trying to overpower others by appearing strong and tough.’
