Fold your arms to boost your performance

Faced with a challenging task, try folding your arms - new research shows people persevere for longer when their arms are crossed.

Ron Friedman and Andrew Elliot gave dozens of students an impossible anagram to solve. Half the students were instructed to attempt the puzzle with their hands on their thighs, while the other students were told to sit with their arms folded. The thigh group only persevered for about 30 seconds on average, while the ... Full Story »

Posted by Leo Romero

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Dara Friedman-Wheeler
4.1
by Dara Friedman-Wheeler - Oct. 1, 2008

I would have to read the primary research in order to evaluate this story more fully, but a priori it looks like it gives a good summary of sound research and notes some of the limitations of the work.

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