Creative thinking is often regarded as a rare talent possessed by only a select few. However, research suggests that creativity is a skill that can be developed by anyone, and that even simple changes in body language can have a noticeable impact on our ability to generate new ideas.
Our posture can subtly influence the way we think. For example, people commonly fold their arms when they feel defensive or resistant, whereas a more open posture often reflects a more receptive mindset. Psychologists at the University of Rochester investigated whether these everyday body positions could affect creative performance.
In one study, participants were asked to solve anagram puzzles while either sitting with their arms crossed or resting their hands on their thighs. Those with crossed arms took almost twice as long to complete the task, suggesting that a closed posture may encourage a more rigid style of thinking.
The researchers concluded that open body language can promote a more flexible and open-minded approach to problem-solving. Simply uncrossing your arms may therefore help you approach challenges with greater creativity.
Facial expressions appear to have a similar effect. Previous research has shown that broadening our experiences and perspectives encourages creative thinking. Building on this idea, Richard Friedman and colleagues at the University of Maryland explored whether facial expressions associated with widening or narrowing attention could also influence creativity.
Participants were instructed to spend two minutes either raising their eyebrows, a gesture linked with broadening attention, or furrowing their brows, which is associated with a narrower focus. During this time, they completed a creative task by listing as many possible uses for a pair of scissors as they could.
The results were striking. Those who raised their eyebrows produced both a greater number of ideas and more original solutions than those who furrowed their brows. Together, these studies suggest that simple physical cues—from adopting an open posture to raising your eyebrows—may help unlock more creative thinking.
