The Psychology of Power Poses: Why Wonder Woman Stands Like That
Wonder Woman doesn’t cross her legs or fold her arms when the world’s watching.
She stands like she’s about to end a war and look good doing it.
That’s not coincidence—it’s physics, posture, and primal psychology.
The Myth of Confidence
People think confidence comes from the inside out. Wrong.
It’s a feedback loop: your body signals your brain, your brain signals your body.
Stand like you own the space, and your nervous system adjusts accordingly.
That’s why posture isn’t just vanity—it’s performance enhancement.
The Wonder Woman Blueprint
The Stance:
Feet slightly wider than hips.
Toes turned slightly out.
Knees soft, not locked.
Core engaged.
Shoulders down and wide.
Chin level.
The Energy:
Centered, immovable, aware.
You’re not “posing.” You’re commanding.
Translation: “I’m here. You can look, but don’t touch the narrative.”
Why It Works (Actual Science)
Psychologists at Harvard and Columbia (before the wellness crowd ruined it) found that “expansive body language” literally changes your hormones—
Increases testosterone (assertiveness)
Lowers cortisol (stress)
So yes, standing like Wonder Woman can actually make you feel stronger.
Cosmic joke: your body’s been the cheat code all along.
The Opposite Energy (And Why It Fails)
Closed Body Language:
Crossed arms = defense.
Shoulders rounded = submission.
Knees knocked = self-doubt.
Eyes down = disengagement.
You don’t look mysterious—you look like your ex texted you mid-shoot.
Confidence lives in openness. The moment you contract, you vanish.
Power Poses That Photograph Well
1. The Classic Heroine:
Feet grounded, chest open, hands on hips.
Head slightly tilted up (dominance).
Ideal for bold, cinematic framing.
2. The Regal Warrior:
One hand on hip, the other extended (weapon, cape, lasso).
Soft bend through knees and spine.
Energy: “I will end you gracefully.”
3. The Strategist:
Weight on one leg, arms crossed loosely (not tight).
Head turned slightly off-center.
Eyes sharp, mouth neutral.
Energy: “I’ve already won.”
4. The Divine:
Arms raised or outstretched.
Chin slightly up, eyes half-lidded.
Energy: ethereal command—control without effort.
The Mind-Body Loop
Here’s the trick: you don’t need to feel powerful first.
You just need to stand like it for 120 seconds.
Your body will catch up.
Power isn’t confidence—it’s clarity.
The moment you drop your shoulders and widen your stance, everyone else adjusts to you.
Using It at Cons or Shoots
Before photos: 2 minutes in a power pose resets your body language.
During: When you freeze mid-shoot, default to this stance. It always works.
After: Walk like you haven’t been questioned all day. (Because you haven’t.)
The Reality Check
You’re not faking it. You’re reclaiming it.
Most of us were trained to shrink—physically, emotionally, digitally.
Power posing is rebellion disguised as posture.
It’s Wonder Woman, not wellness.