{"id":1660,"date":"2016-07-28T10:04:16","date_gmt":"2016-07-28T08:04:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/?p=1660"},"modified":"2025-01-26T10:46:23","modified_gmt":"2025-01-26T09:46:23","slug":"cesar-millan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/cesar-millan\/","title":{"rendered":"What can we learn from Cesar Millan?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>Revised August 2024<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you ready for a challenge?<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/umbrellas.jpg\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1662\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/umbrellas.jpg\" alt=\"umbrellas\" class=\"wp-image-1662\" srcset=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/umbrellas.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/umbrellas-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/umbrellas-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/umbrellas-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/umbrellas-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Everybody\u2019s got some valuable knowledge &#8211; a \u201cyellow umbrella\u201d. Finding it can be challenging.<em>&nbsp;<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Find the yellow umbrella.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>We can learn something from every single person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s a conviction that I have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My challenge to you is to try to <em>find that something in every single pet owner or animal professional that you meet. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What animal-related piece of knowledge can you gain from that person?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Find the yellow umbrella. The nugget of wisdom that will change how you interact with animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ignore the other, black umbrellas: the ideas, techniques and explanations that don\u2019t fit your paradigm. And here\u2019s the challenge: though you might find these black umbrellas appalling \u2013 the task in this exercise is to ignore them rather than allow them to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=G0T_2NNoC68\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">flip your lid<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rather, pick and choose that which resonates with you. What you find might be an animal-related technique, a piece of knowledge, or merely an idea that you can mold to fit your own framework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I try to approach animal trainers from all camps with an open heart and mind, knowing that they all have some insight that will help me improve my understanding of the world in general, and animals in particular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, which nugget of knowledge do I find with the Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p>Time for a disclaimer: I disagree with how Millan explains behaviour, his choices of training technique and the way he relates to animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For me, those are black umbrellas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But this blog post isn\u2019t about the black umbrellas of the Dog Whisperer; there has been a ton of scientifically founded blog posts published criticizing his black umbrellas. You can find such posts&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/beyondcesarmillan.weebly.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">here<\/a>, and I\u2019m generally in agreement with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, I wrote a free E-book detailing the 20 problems with punishment. Sounds interesting? Just sign up below to access it along with the infographic, and I&#8217;ll also keep you posted on free webinars, online courses and future blog posts!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before we get into the weeds, a sidenote. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I do get a lot of pushback regarding this blog post, and for three somewhat different reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Many people find it impossible to momentarily put aside and ignore Millan\u2019s black umbrellas, and this approach becomes an exercise in futility and frustration \u2013 they don\u2019t deem it\u2019s worth the effort. Time and energy is limited, and it\u2019s too unpleasant to sift for those potential nuggets. And I can fully relate to that \u2013 absolutely. To this objection, my answer would simply be \u2013 then don\u2019t do it. This should be an interesting and challenging exercise, not a painful one. And one arguably better invested in neighbors, relatives or coworkers rather than a controversial TV personality. It\u2019s the <em>principle of looking for the common ground<\/em> that I\u2019m trying to illustrate with this talk of yellow and black umbrellas, not Millan specifically. If it gets too painful it\u2019s better to simply walk away to retain one\u2019s sanity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some people think that looking after any useful nuggets in Millan\u2019s teaching also somehow condones the black umbrellas \u2013 and they wouldn\u2019t touch him with a ten-foot pole. They think we shouldn\u2019t look for any common ground, but would rather ostracize and shun him altogether. To this objection, I would respectfully disagree. I think cancel culture is deeply problematic: dehumanizing, polarizing and thoroughly unproductive. To me, the solution is not shunning, but debate. Many naive people watch Millan and are impressed by his charisma and &#8220;quick fixes&#8221;, and once they are under his spell they might get affronted by proxy: their hero is under attack! And here is the difficulty: if we truly want to change someone\u2019s mind, the climate of such a debate must not be confrontative \u2013 that will just make <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/fact-or-fake\/\" target=\"_blank\">the barriers go up<\/a>. What we must do is <em>find the common ground.<\/em> In this blog post, I\u2019m suggesting one way of doing that. Achieving a <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wtf\/\" target=\"_blank\">shift in frames<\/a> is another approach.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I\u2019ve also had people suggesting that by writing this post I\u2019m just trying to make money by \u201cappealing to the abusers\u201d. And, let\u2019s for a moment assume that they\u2019re right. By writing this blog post, I\u2019m going to appeal to some of the \u201cabusers\u201d, who will now start following my work, perhaps take part of my free trainings, or even buy one of my <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/courses-menu\/\" target=\"_blank\">courses<\/a>. To this objection, I can confidently say that if I can get them that truly into my clutches that they enroll in a course, <em>I will convert them.<\/em> I\u2019m not concerned that the \u201cabusers\u201d will subvert my work or students, but if my teaching helps people change their minds and change their behaviours, that will in turn change the lives of the animals they touch for the better \u2013 and perhaps some ripple effects will spread even further into their communities. And how is that even a bad thing? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>***<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Again, this blog post is about finding the <em>yellow<\/em> umbrella. Rather than picking on the many things I disagree with, what knowledge does Millan share that I think is actually useful?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For me, it is this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>See the film that summarizes the main points of this blog post:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/390447921?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The importance of body language.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Millan talks about it, but indirectly. He talks about <em>energy<\/em>, and conceptualizes energy as <em>emotion and intention<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He speaks about the importance of being calm, assertive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And that the dogs should be calm, submissive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As I\u2019ll explain below, I think the concept of dominance doesn\u2019t belong here, but I do think he\u2019s on to something &#8211; with regards to the person\u2019s body language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, while I\u2019m not buying his verbal explanation, and disagree with how he actually goes about implementing body language, I think that he\u2019s using a tool that many of us are unaware of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A phenomenon that has been overlooked by many pet owners and animal professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Power posing \u2013 effects on chemistry and behaviour.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>I saw a fascinating TED talk a few years back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Harvard professor Amy Cuddy\u2019s talk, called: \u201cYour body language shapes who you are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cuddy\u2019s TED talk has been seen over 72 million times; it\u2019s the second most viewed TED talk of all time presently &#8211; if you haven\u2019t seen it, do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s absolutely fascinating.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ted.com\/talks\/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1674 noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1896\" height=\"755\" src=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/amy-cuddy.png\" alt=\"amy cuddy\" class=\"wp-image-1674\" srcset=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/amy-cuddy.png 1896w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/amy-cuddy-300x119.png 300w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/amy-cuddy-768x306.png 768w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/amy-cuddy-1024x408.png 1024w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/amy-cuddy-1200x478.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1896px) 100vw, 1896px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>To summarize her presentation: By changing body positions, we change our body chemistry. And by doing so, we change our behaviour. Our assertiveness. Our risk taking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And importantly, <em>we change people\u2019s perceptions of us.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a famous study, Cuddy and colleagues let volunteers assume a certain body pose for two minutes. These poses were either High Power Poses, or Low Power Poses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>High Power \u2013 expansive, taking up space, legs apart, arms wide. Assertive, confident. Sort of like Super-Woman.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Low Power \u2013 legs crossed, arms crossed, slouching. Insecure. Think\u2026 Clark Kent. The Christopher Reeve interpretation (not the Tom Welling, Dean Kain or Henry Cavill versions).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In case you\u2019re wondering, you have the opportunity of seeing me doing these Power Poses in the short video that goes with this blog post. Here it is again: see Karolina <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/DKoVMyx80Y0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">do the Power Poses and explain the main ideas<\/a> of this blog post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, here are some data for all us geeks.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Chemistry-changes-after-Power-Posing-1.png\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1676\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1045\" height=\"593\" src=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Chemistry-changes-after-Power-Posing-1.png\" alt=\"Chemistry changes after Power Posing\" class=\"wp-image-1676\" srcset=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Chemistry-changes-after-Power-Posing-1.png 1045w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Chemistry-changes-after-Power-Posing-1-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Chemistry-changes-after-Power-Posing-1-768x436.png 768w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Chemistry-changes-after-Power-Posing-1-1024x581.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1045px) 100vw, 1045px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>After 2 minutes of posing, the High-power people \u2026 Wonder woman\u2026 had increased their levels of testosterone (a <a href=\"http:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s11031-011-9264-3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">hormone related to aggression<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And not just a trifle, but about 20 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They also decreased their cortisol levels by one quarter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s cortisol again? It\u2019s a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/blog\/the-athletes-way\/201301\/cortisol-why-the-stress-hormone-is-public-enemy-no-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">stress hormone.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Isn\u2019t that interesting?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But wait. It gets even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was <em>vice versa<\/em> in the Low-power people. The Clark Kents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Clarks get a reduction of testosterone. And a cortisol spike \u2013 in other words a stress response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After two minutes of doing nothing other than assuming a special body position!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just look at that! The effects of High versus Low Power Poses are opposite mirror images with regards to these hormones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mind-boggling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But is it important? Does it change behaviour?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It sure does.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Risk-taking-in-High-Power-Posing-people-1.png\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1677\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1037\" height=\"591\" src=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Risk-taking-in-High-Power-Posing-people-1.png\" alt=\"Risk taking in High Power Posing people\" class=\"wp-image-1677\" srcset=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Risk-taking-in-High-Power-Posing-people-1.png 1037w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Risk-taking-in-High-Power-Posing-people-1-300x171.png 300w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Risk-taking-in-High-Power-Posing-people-1-768x438.png 768w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Risk-taking-in-High-Power-Posing-people-1-1024x584.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1037px) 100vw, 1037px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">High Power Posing leads to assertive, risk-taking behaviour.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The high-power posing people were more prone to gamble afterward, too \u2013 more risk-taking (and in some cases, more vengeful, see below). So, the Wonder Women would likely gamble, but they wouldn\u2019t be stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their cortisol is low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Testosterone high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Confident and at ease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Calm assertive. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, where have we heard that expression&#8230;?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone wp-image-1666 size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"275\" height=\"184\" src=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Clark-Kents-glasses.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1666\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Low Power Posing reduces risk-taking and assertiveness.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Clark Kents, having done Low Power Posing, are less likely to gamble. But stressed. And insecure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So there\u2019s a <em>measurable<\/em> change in body chemistry as well as behaviour. After spending 2 minutes in a certain body position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Power Posing has huge and important effects on chemistry &#8211; and behaviour. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You know where I\u2019m going with this, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hint: which type of Power Posing do we see from Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But let\u2019s not go there yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You see, the findings don\u2019t end here. In fact, here\u2019s where it gets really interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, after High or Low Power Posing for two minutes, researchers sent their volunteers into a very stressful job interview, where they had to spend 5 minutes talking about why they should get their dream job in front of two stone-faced evaluators and a camera.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/thumbs.png\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1671\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2038\" height=\"677\" src=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/thumbs.png\" alt=\"thumbs\" class=\"wp-image-1671\" srcset=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/thumbs.png 2038w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/thumbs-300x100.png 300w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/thumbs-768x255.png 768w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/thumbs-1024x340.png 1024w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/thumbs-1200x399.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2038px) 100vw, 2038px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">High Power Posing leads to better performance at job interviews than did Low Power Posing.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Without knowing which group a person had been assigned to, evaluators watching only the stress-inducing job interview film would select the High-power people, and reject the Low-power people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, there\u2019s a change in <em>how they were visually perceived.<\/em> It wasn\u2019t the content of the speech, mind you. It\u2019s about the presence. Confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In her TED talk, Cuddy says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p><em>\u201cOur bodies change our minds<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>And our minds change our behaviour<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>And our behaviour changes our outcomes\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>So let\u2019s bring that quote back to Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer. Who is constantly doing High Power Poses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I mean \u2013 just watch an episode. Turn the volume down and look at how he carries himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ignore the training part and what he actually says. The black umbrellas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Look at body language. The yellow umbrella that\u2019s the topic of this blog post. I\u2019ll get back to in a while how I would tweak this differently than the Dog Whisperer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, that\u2019s a bold statement coming from someone who\u2019s never owned a dog and doesn&#8217;t work hands-on with dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But think of that statement as just another umbrella. Is it black, or is it yellow? Read on and find out whether you agree or not. My expertise is not in dogs, it\u2019s in behaviour. I\u2019m not the hands-on type person. I\u2019m more of an observer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And right now I\u2019m watching a random episode of the Dog Whisperer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Look at the body language of his clients. Many of them are doing Clark Kent &nbsp;\u2013 impersonations. Limbs crossed, eyes down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Back to the quote. \u201cour bodies change our minds\u2026 our behaviour\u2026 our outcomes\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Power Posing changes other people\u2019s perception of us.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What about a dog\u2019s perception? What if you had been Power Posing before interacting with the animal? People spot the difference <em>\u2013 how about dogs?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Three-inputs-for-dogs-1.png\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1678\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1476\" height=\"931\" src=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Three-inputs-for-dogs-1.png\" alt=\"Three inputs for dogs\" class=\"wp-image-1678\" srcset=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Three-inputs-for-dogs-1.png 1476w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Three-inputs-for-dogs-1-300x189.png 300w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Three-inputs-for-dogs-1-768x484.png 768w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Three-inputs-for-dogs-1-1024x646.png 1024w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Three-inputs-for-dogs-1-1200x757.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1476px) 100vw, 1476px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dogs have visual input, olfactory input and choice input after the human\u2019s Power Posing.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>A dog would have three different types of input from a human who\u2019s been doing Power Posing before the interaction:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>The visual input. The stance. How a person moves. Whether they seek eye contact. Are they staring, or just looking?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The choice input. The decisions of the person. The degree of risk-taking. The tone of voice. The choice of training techniques. And that brings in the whole dimension of reinforcement and punishment, and classical conditioning, of course. But let\u2019s put all that aside. In this blog post, I don\u2019t want to lose myself in discussing the choice of training techniques. Just know that <em>the choice of training technique and criteria setting is likely to be affected by Power Posing.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And the olfactory input. Smells. Remember, 2 minutes of High Power Posing leads to a 20% increase in testosterone!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Can dogs smell that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rhetorical question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>People <\/em>can smell testosterone! Women <a href=\"http:\/\/www.livescience.com\/28812-women-prefer-smell-of-manly-guys.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">prefer the smell<\/a> of manly guys, and it\u2019s the testosterone that they detect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course dogs can smell that!! Their olfactory sense is a gazillion times better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dogs can smell testosterone. A hormone associated with aggressive behaviour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And they <a href=\"http:\/\/dogtime.com\/dog-health\/general\/20632-meet-cali-the-first-cortisol-sniffing-dog-on-staff-at-school\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">can also smell cortisol<\/a>. A stress-related hormone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Will they change their behaviour as a consequence of all this input?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I think so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But wait, there\u2019s more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Power Posing is complemented, not mirrored.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Back to Amy Cuddy. One of the things she mentions in passing in her TED talk is that when humans interact with one another, we complement the other individual\u2019s nonverbal power posing behaviour \u2013 we don\u2019t mirror them, we do the opposite of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We may mirror other behaviour, but <em>when it comes to power, we tend to complement<\/em> the other\u2019s nonverbals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In humans, if one individual does a High Power Pose, the other is likely to respond with a Low Power Pose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Think about this for a second. If a person in front of you with whom you\u2019re interacting is standing in a High Power Pose, you\u2019d feel uncomfortable doing one too if you\u2019re facing each other. It would be as if you were challenging that person. In a conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s confrontational. Antagonistic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, apparently, we humans complement rather than mirror Power Poses.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-medium\"><a href=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Power-pose-complemented-not-mirrored.png\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1679\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Power-pose-complemented-not-mirrored-300x300.png\" alt=\"Power pose complemented not mirrored\" class=\"wp-image-1679\" srcset=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Power-pose-complemented-not-mirrored-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Power-pose-complemented-not-mirrored-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Power-pose-complemented-not-mirrored.png 411w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Non-verbal Power behaviour is complemented, not mirrored.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>OK, so we now know two things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Power Posing changes chemistry and behaviour.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you Power Pose facing someone else, you in turn influence that individual\u2019s choice of Power Pose.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>And here\u2019s the thing &#8211; isn\u2019t that exactly what Cesar Millan does?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I would suggest that, not only does he spend a lot of time in High Power Poses changing his body chemistry and assertiveness, but he actually makes a point of assuming High Power Poses<em> facing the dog.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Challenging the dog, as it were.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-large wp-image-1664 size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/wide-stance.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"738\" src=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/wide-stance-1024x738.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7742\" srcset=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/wide-stance-1024x738.png 1024w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/wide-stance-300x216.png 300w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/wide-stance-768x553.png 768w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/wide-stance-1536x1106.png 1536w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/wide-stance-2048x1475.png 2048w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/wide-stance-1200x864.png 1200w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/wide-stance-1980x1426.png 1980w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Doing a High Power Pose facing a dog is likely challenging.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Dogs evolved with humans. Our ancestors intentionally selected individuals that collaborated with us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dogs today, living with humans, can <a href=\"http:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2016-03-03\/dogs-can-read-emotional-states-in-humans,-experts-prove\/7216140\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">read emotional expressions in humans<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I wonder if part of the domestication process involved molding dogs to do this power posing \u201cdance\u201d with us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That we sometimes respond to assertive aggressive body language in dogs with Low Power Poses, and vice versa: they do the same \u2013 doggie versions of Low Power Poses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That this pattern of interaction that\u2019s documented between humans also might occur between dogs and humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As far as I know, that hasn\u2019t been studied. This is just me throwing out an unsubstantiated idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m speculating that part of what Millan does in his TV shows is that he High Power Poses in front of dogs until they change from the doggie High Power Pose &#8211; or neutral &#8211; into the canine version of the Low Power Pose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u201cCalm assertive\u201d vs \u201ccalm submissive\u201d<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Milan calls the ideal human energy state <em>calm assertive.<\/em> That\u2019s a good name, I think \u2013 I agree. For me, this is part of the yellow umbrella.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Calm-assesrtive-e1469692553710.png\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1680\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1505\" height=\"642\" src=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Calm-assesrtive-e1469692553710.png\" alt=\"Calm assesrtive\" class=\"wp-image-1680\" srcset=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Calm-assesrtive-e1469692553710.png 1505w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Calm-assesrtive-e1469692553710-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Calm-assesrtive-e1469692553710-768x328.png 768w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Calm-assesrtive-e1469692553710-1024x437.png 1024w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Calm-assesrtive-e1469692553710-1200x512.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1505px) 100vw, 1505px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u201cCalm\u201d probably corresponding to a low level of cortisol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAssertive\u201d might then be associated with high levels of testosterone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though he does it in front of the dog \u2013 and I think it\u2019s a fair assumption that he challenges them to change their body language. That, for me, is a black umbrella. More on that shortly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He calls the dog\u2019s energy state <em>calm submissive<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For me, the dog is <em>neither calm nor necessarily submissive<\/em> and that term doesn\u2019t at all capture what\u2019s going on. In my world, the expression calm submissive is a black umbrella.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I don\u2019t know whether anyone has examined explicitly what happens with regards to body chemistry in dogs when in this so called <em>calm submissive<\/em> state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If body chemistry changes in the same way as it does in humans when assuming a Low Power Pose, we can expect an increase in cortisol. An increase in the stress response. That is not \u201ccalm\u201d \u2013 it\u2019s the opposite: high arousal. In fact, stressed animals who stop struggling could be in a state of learned helplessness or immobility \u2013 and that is something altogether different from &#8220;calm&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Stress can also interfere with learning. A stressed animal may not learn what\u2019s required of him as well as a non-stressed animal. To me, this is not a desirable state of mind for any animal that I want to teach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSubmissive\u201d \u2013 for me as an ethologist and a scientist, this is a term that I reserve for individuals who know each other and have developed a consistent interpersonal relationship. That\u2019s not at all what I see on Cesar Millan\u2019s TV shows. A more plausible explanation is that the dog has simply learned that changing body language is one way of stopping someone from staring you down or escalating. <a href=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/labels\/#dominance\">N<\/a><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/labels\/#dominance\" target=\"_blank\">o<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/labels\/#dominance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">t submission in the narrow ethological sense.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Implications.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>So, I\u2019m suggesting that Millan uses challenging Power Posing to change the body language of dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Does he change the dog\u2019s chemistry? Possibly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Does he change their overt behaviour and decisions? Yes. Undoubtedly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, this has some interesting implications. And as far as I know, it hasn\u2019t been scientifically studied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We know behaviour changes due to a few different and to some extent overlapping mechanisms.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Behaviour-change-mechanisms.png\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1675\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1726\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Behaviour-change-mechanisms.png\" alt=\"Behaviour change mechanisms\" class=\"wp-image-1675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Behaviour-change-mechanisms.png 1726w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Behaviour-change-mechanisms-300x178.png 300w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Behaviour-change-mechanisms-768x456.png 768w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Behaviour-change-mechanisms-1024x608.png 1024w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Behaviour-change-mechanisms-1200x712.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1726px) 100vw, 1726px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">How much does input from others\u2019 body language produce behaviour change?<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Operant learning: reinforcement and punishment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Classical conditioning: learning to predict the order of events.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Emotional states: emotions and moods influence behaviour (<a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/animal-trainers-take-animal-emotions-into-consideration\/\" target=\"_blank\">and we sometimes mistake mood change for learning).<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Input from body language, facial expressions, vocal prosody, smells and pheromones: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/blog\/polyvagal-perspectives\/202303\/four-reasons-why-interacting-with-a-dog-makes-you-feel-good\" target=\"_blank\">co-regulation<\/a> (nervous systems synchronizing) probably occurs between humans and animals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>How does Power Posing affect dog\u2019s behaviour? How much explanatory power should we give to this mechanism? Are the dogs on Millan\u2019s TV shows changing their behaviour because of the top three mechanisms, or the fourth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I don\u2019t know. As far as I know, this hasn\u2019t been studied experimentally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It would be interesting to know whether Cesar Millan would get the results he\u2019s getting without using challenging Power Posing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I don\u2019t know whether he would.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But this, for me, the importance of body language, is the yellow umbrella when it comes to the Dog Whisperer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s the nugget of wisdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I would just use it quite differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I wouldn\u2019t use challenging Power Posing as a way to dominate an animal, and challenge an aggressive dog in a staring contest until he yields and assumes a low-power position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That is not the learning outcome I want you to walk away with from this blog post. Such an animal might be stressed and not in a good place to learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Indeed, I think the talk of dominance is completely unnecessary in this context \u2013 it\u2019s could simply be that it\u2019s highly uncomfortable to be in a situation where two individuals are both in the High Power pose \u2013 one of them will switch. Or they escalate. <em>If it ain\u2019t the human that switches, it\u2019s the dog.<\/em> And Millan never yields in these staring contests. He does get frequently bitten, though \u2013 so escalation occurs too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To conclude: your body language impacts your chemistry, behaviour, and decision making, and very likely, the animals in your care too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At least dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Use that to your advantage. Without putting the animal at a disadvantage. Win-win makes everybody happier. We don\u2019t have to \u201cput animals in their place\u201d to get behaviour change.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/win-win.jpg\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1672\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1467\" height=\"1125\" src=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/win-win.jpg\" alt=\"win win\" class=\"wp-image-1672\" srcset=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/win-win.jpg 1467w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/win-win-300x230.jpg 300w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/win-win-768x589.jpg 768w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/win-win-1024x785.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/win-win-1200x920.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1467px) 100vw, 1467px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Rather than using body language to dominate, use it to convey a sense of security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of using High Power Posing to challenge animals to assume the canine versions of Low Power Poses, do a High Power Pose<strong> before interacting with your dog. <\/strong>Much like the volunteers in professor Cuddy\u2019s study did <strong>before<\/strong> the job interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because if dogs can pick up on the stress-hormone cortisol, and that in turn could make them anxious, that is reason enough to think about how you carry yourself before interacting with dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And perhaps around other animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That, for me, is the yellow umbrella of the Dog whisperer. One of the topics of this blog post. And indeed, this whole concept of considering your own body language when interacting with animals may certainly go beyond what&#8217;s discussed above; as several of my readers have mentioned in the comments&#8217; section below, perhaps using <em>mirroring<\/em> to build connection and cooperation is something to try out? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Or might deep breathing and grounding help us achieve <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justinlmft.com\/post\/pets-co-regulation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">co-regulation?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Calm Connected &#8211; rather than calm assertive?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>One slightly disconcerting thing about the effects of power posing is that a combination of high testosterone and low cortisol has been found to be associated with an increase of both impulsive and premeditated aggression &#8211; with regards to the impulsive aggression this is apparently only seen when in combination with low levels of serotonin (a feel-good neurotransmitter). Now, it&#8217;s entirely plausible that power posing doesn&#8217;t skew the Testosterone \/ Cortisol ratio to the point of increasing the likelihood of aggressive behaviour in most people most of the time (although the likelihood of vengeful behaviour was increased in chronically powerless individuals after doing power poses in one study), but if we could simultaneously raise serotonin we would perhaps reduce some of that risk.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One simple way of raising serotonin is by taking deep breaths, tapping into the ventral vagal pathways of the parasympathetic nervous system. Coincidentally, deep breaths are also a way of reducing cortisol. \ud83d\ude42&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deep breathing is a way to become grounded and centered, and allows us to <em>co-regulate <\/em>our autonomic states with others (including animals) through the exchange of reciprocal cues of safety. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/10\/Depositphotos_12323505_XLsmall-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"784\" src=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/10\/Depositphotos_12323505_XLsmall-1024x784.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7222\" srcset=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/10\/Depositphotos_12323505_XLsmall-1024x784.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/10\/Depositphotos_12323505_XLsmall-300x230.jpg 300w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/10\/Depositphotos_12323505_XLsmall-768x588.jpg 768w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/10\/Depositphotos_12323505_XLsmall-1536x1176.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/10\/Depositphotos_12323505_XLsmall-2048x1568.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Another way to change our physiological and autonomic state &#8211; and through co-regulation, affecting other individuals too &#8211; is through deep breathing, especially exhaling. Given the importance of power poses, I should think that our posture when taking these deep breaths is highly relevant! <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The controversy surrounding Power Posing<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Power posing is actually an area of scientific debate: Cuddy&#8217;s <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedaily.com\/releases\/2017\/09\/170911095932.htm\" target=\"_blank\">conclusions have been challenged<\/a>, as <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/kimelsesser\/2018\/04\/03\/power-posing-is-back-amy-cuddy-successfully-refutes-criticism\/#3f01c2243b8e\" target=\"_blank\">some of her findings have been hard to replicate<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, Cuddy and colleagues have <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/eprint\/CzbNAn7Ch6ZZirK9yMGH\/full\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">refuted the critique<\/a> in a systematic review of available studies. Clearly there is something to this phenomenon, but it&#8217;s probably&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/ideas.ted.com\/inside-the-debate-about-power-posing-a-q-a-with-amy-cuddy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">not as clear-cut <\/a>as I&#8217;m outlining in this blog post, at least not when it comes to the human studies.&nbsp; It remains to be studied scientifically how power posing would affect dogs, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What to do? Wait for the scientists to catch on? Or &#8211; make your own experiment!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><em>set up a camera to film yourself and your animal (not the actual power posing but the interaction afterwards)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>spend 2 minutes in either low- or high-power poses &#8211; or adopt a neutral position, taking deep breaths &#8211; before interacting with your animal<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>do the other power pose, or deep breaths, on another day. Match the situation as precisely as you can to the first day with regards to everything but your choice of power pose (time of day, clothing, location, weather, having eaten, people present, position of camera etc).&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>have someone else analyze the films, and don&#8217;t tell them which treatment is which.&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>come back to this page and let us know if your friend saw anything different happening &#8211; with regards to your own behaviour, or the animal&#8217;s!<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, don\u2019t forget the other topic \u2013 the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Try to learn something from every pet owner and animal professional that you come across.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/yellow-umbrellas.png\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1661\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1201\" height=\"627\" src=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/yellow-umbrellas-facebook.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5757\" srcset=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/yellow-umbrellas-facebook.png 1201w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/yellow-umbrellas-facebook-300x157.png 300w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/yellow-umbrellas-facebook-768x401.png 768w, https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/yellow-umbrellas-facebook-1024x535.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1201px) 100vw, 1201px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Find their yellow umbrellas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>***<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wanna learn more from yours truly? I have quite a few umbrellas. For you, some of them might be yellow, and others may be black. To access my umbrella collection, sign up and I will keep you posted about my upcoming free Masterclasses, webinars, silly experiments, blog posts and online courses &#8211; all about how to get happy, reasonably well behaved animals that thrive in the care of people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">References.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Carney et al. (2010). Power posing brief nonverbal displays affect neuroendocrine levels and risk tolerance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cuddy, et al. (2012). The benefit of power posing before a high-stakes social evaluation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Cuddy, et al. (2017)&nbsp;<\/span>P-Curving a More Comprehensive Body of Research on Postural Feedback Reveals Clear Evidential Value for Power-Posing Effects: Reply to Simmons and Simonsohn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dabbs &amp; Hopper (1990). Cortisol, arousal, and personality in two groups of normal men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Geller (2018). Therapeutic presence and polyvagal theory: Principles and practices for cultivating effective therapeutic relationships.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hepburn &amp; McMahon (2017). Pranayama meditation (yoga breathing) for stress relief: Is it beneficial for teachers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lecostant &amp; Spitz (2022). Integrative model of Human-Animal Interactions: A one health\u2013one welfare systemic approach to studying HAI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Montoya et al. (2012). Testosterone, cortisol, and serotonin as key regulators of social aggression: A review and theoretical perspective.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shors (2004). Learning during stressful times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Strelan et al. (2014). Power and revenge.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Looking for the golden nugget of knowledge.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,20,23],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1660"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1660"}],"version-history":[{"count":57,"href":"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1660\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7882,"href":"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1660\/revisions\/7882"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1660"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1660"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1660"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}