It is fair to say that most people assume that we experience an emotion and it affects our bodies. We feel sad and our body droops or we feel fear so we run. However, a 19th century psychology theory called the James-Lange Theory, suggests that emotions come about as a result of physical changes in your body. In other words, if you are walking down a dark alley and you suddenly you hear a sound; it is the running that causes you to “feel” fear. This theory means that as an actor you can generate certain emotions by doing appropriate physical activities, a useful tool when feelings don’t show up on cue.
This theory got something of a boost in an article entitled “Strike a Pose” in the November 29, 2010, Time Magazine. New research shows that the way you sit or stand can make you feel more powerful because power poses, such as sitting with your feet on the desk with your hands behind your head or standing with your feet spread and arms out, actually increase your level of testosterone and lower the level of the stress hormone cortisol. Conversely, people who assume low-power positions, such as with sitting with shoulders slumped or standing with ankles and hands crossed, have lower levels of testosterone and higher levels of cortisol.
Interestingly this research builds on earlier studies that showed that if a person held a pencil in their teeth, forcing the facial muscles into a something like a smile, the person felt happier. This all sounds similar to James Lange Theory, which states that movement generates the emotions. Now we know that some movement or postures actually affect your body chemistry and that change will alter your emotional state.
So when you act, use your body. Find out how your character sits, stands, moves, and gestures. Then work on these physical elements until you can make them your own. This will not only communicate the character to the audience, but it may just change your body chemistry and enable you to really experience the character’s feelings.
Eric Barr. All rights reserved
