The Impacts of Open/closed Body Positions and Postures on Learners’ Moods

Abstract

When humans feel confident, lively, and active, they assume an open expansive posture, however when they feel helpless, insecure, and listless, they assume a closed and contractive posture. Hence, the question is whether open or closed postures affect EFL learners’ moods. This study would highlight the impacts of the bodily behaviors on the person assuming specific physical postures and is aimed at revealing the possible impacts of high/low power (open/closed) sitting postures on language learners’ moods. To this aim, 15 male Iranian English learners were asked to assume open, closed, and ordinary postures in nine 90-minute sessions. The data were collected through using a questionnaire and the participants’ self-narratives. The statistical analysis of the questionnaire and qualitative analysis of the self-narratives demonstrated that closed postures have more negative impacts on moods while open postures have more positive impacts.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n2s1p643