Body posture and interpersonal perception in a dyadic interaction: A Big Two analysis

Abstract Body posture influences feelings about the self, but little is known its impact on social cognition more generally. We apply Big Two framework (Agency/Competence, Communion/Warmth) and study how body interpersonal perception in a dyadic interaction. In three experiments, we studied dyads with different postures (Exps. 1 2: expanded/restricted; Exp. 3: expanded/neutral). Dyad members worked joint task, rated self other. Findings showed that participants an expanded higher other lower agency, whereas those submissive (or neutral) agency. Experiment 2, also their communion lower. Results are important both for of context effects relationship Agency versus Communion ratings others.