The Psychological Effects Of Making A Fist:from The View Of Embodied Cognition

Embodied cognition is a hot topic in current psychology research, which emphasize the role of actual bodily states in cognition. In this study, we asked whether and how making a fist which is observable in many sporting events influences cognitions/mind and behaviors. One video observation, one interview and four experiments were conducted to investigate the psychological effects of making a fist.Observing the video of table tennis competition, pilot Study1found that making a fist appeared immediately after athletes won and scored, and also likely actived some positive influence on the performance after that; these were found in pilot Study2too. In pilot Study2, collegiate athletes were interviewed and found that making a fist was used to express pride, to improve confidence and to firm the willpower, thus has both expressive and instrumental functions. Based on the findings of pilot Studies, combining linguistic phenomenon, Study1established that bodily feedback from making a fist activated the concept of control, as evidenced by the fact that it took participants longer to name the color of words related to control in a modified Stroop task when they made a fist. In study2, self evaluation and perceived control were assessed by self-report. Results showed that there was no significant difference in self-efficacy and perceived control between participants who making a fist and not. Similar differences occurred in Studies3and4. In Study3, the time participants held their hand in the ice water was compared. Comparing to the participants hold neutral gesture, the participants making a fist held a longer time in the ice water. Study4also found that female college students who making a fist made significant better performance in running, while male college students who making a fist made marginal significant better in running.These findings indicated that merely making the gesture, without noticing its relation to any mental process at all, is sufficient to change perceptions and behaviors of control although its effect is small, which adds a new perspective to the research on embodiment of control and the underlying mechanism sheds some light on the control of body and behavior.