Confidence Is Not About Looking Stern, British Study Suggests

Looking stern is not the key to appearing confident, according to a British study highlighted in a brief summary citing researchers at the University of Glasgow.

The research addresses a familiar concern: how people convey self-confidence when speaking to others. Many try to project assurance through their gestures and the way they talk.

The study’s headline challenges the idea that a frown or severe expression signals confidence, pointing instead to other signs. The summary, however, does not specify what those signs are.

No details were provided about the study’s methods or findings, leaving open the question of which gestures or speaking styles the researchers associated with confidence.