Swearing May be Good for Us – Study Shows
July 21st, 2009
A GoodTherapy.org News Update
We’re taught not to swear in several stages throughout life, especially as children. In a wide number of social and formal situations, using expletives can in fact land someone in quite a bit of trouble. But when we’re by ourselves and under stress, the ability to yelp out a forbidden word or two might be more therapeutic than it would seem on the surface. This idea is perhaps most prevalent in those instances where we stub a toe or otherwise accidentally hurt ourselves, one of the most popular instances in which people let loose with swear words. Drawing on this common occurrence, a team at Keele University in Blightly has performed a study, with interesting implications for the worlds of psychology and pain relief.
The study was a delicate operation –after all, asking participants to endure a bit of pain and then sound off with words they’ve been instructed not to utter in the presence of others is a lofty quest, even in the academic environment. But the study met this challenge with the use of icy water. Participants were asked to submerge their hands into the water, and some subjects were encouraged to let out any “bad words” that came to mind, while others were limited to saying something defined as non-offensive. The results proved interesting: those who swore reported less pain, and on average were able to endure submersion for forty seconds longer than their clean-mouthed counterparts.
While it isn’t exactly cause for replacing every other word with something deliciously uncouth, the study does suggest that allowing ourselves a greater range of speech in times of stress –which may include therapy sessions– may be helpful in allowing us to work past our basic sensory barriers.
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Comments
You know, I have never tried swearing when I have a headache.. I think you just saved my from a lot of F@#$ing pain. :~)
I know that when I am feeling tired and stressed a few bad words go a long way. I don’t know what it is about them but saying that just gives me a release, and they do not even have to be said with anyone else around. I try to keep them to myself but sometimes just letting them out feels good.
I think that works only when the source of pain or stress is not a person. I dont think swearing at someone else really helps. It makes things worse. I am definitely a swearer cos that has got me through many lab tests with PG. It helps when you feel stuck and you need to vent.
I think a lot of road rage goes away with a few expletives. Even children verbally express anger even when they dont know it.
You can persuade student volunteers to do this and call it research? LOL. I hear the government wants to replace waterboarding. These psychologists should call them. I’d be swearing my head off.
I loooooove my harsh language. It helps me definitely get through my day. I havent ever tried it with a cop though. lol :-)
I swear like a trooper when I get mad. I don’t do it in public places and it lets me get rid of pent up anger. We should all lash out more with our tongue than our hands.
If I didn’t swear I’d be knocking out half my neighbors before lunch. I ain’t no choir boy and won’t behave like one neither. I don’t want to give it up.
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