Swear to your heart's content: Scientists have proven that foul language is good for the psyche

Many of us hold ourselves back the desire to swear when something goes wrong. And such an emotion can be useful. The publication talks about the benefits of using strong words Team.

Studies have shown that swearing has a positive effect on stress, anxiety, and depression. There are many potential physical, psychological, and social benefits associated with the power of a well-placed swear word.

So, here are the hidden benefits of swearing that scientists have discovered.

On the subject: 8 Russian words and phrases that sound like curses to Americans

Sharp words help to endure pain

Swearing causes what is known as hypoalgesia, or decreased sensitivity to pain. Research has shown that after uttering a curse word, people can hold their hands in ice water longer than if they had said a neutral word.

"Swearing is an accessible and inexpensive self-help tool," says Richard Stevens, a senior lecturer in psychology at Keele University in the UK and the author of Black Sheep: The Hidden Benefits of Being Bad ("Black Sheep: The Hidden Benefits of Bad Behavior").

However, there is an interesting nuance here.

"People who swear less often get more out of it when they really need it," he noted. That is, if you swear too often, the words lose their power.

Swearing allows you to train more effectively

When swear words are spoken out loud, they improve performance during physical activities, particularly cycling and weight training.

Study published in Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology in 2022, found that when people repeated a curse word while doing push-ups, they reported increased self-confidence.

Stevens, one of the study's authors, said swearing appears to help people break free from social inhibitions.

"When we are less inhibited, we are less concerned about negative social evaluation," he explained, adding that this increases self-confidence.

Obscene language can regulate emotions

Study published in European Journal of Social Psychology, found that when people felt socially isolated and used expletives for two minutes, their feelings of resentment and social stress were significantly lower than those who used neutral words.

In another study, researchers found that when drivers cursed after being denied passage or when they encountered a traffic jam caused by illegally parked cars, cursing helped them cope with their anger and return to a more balanced emotional state more quickly.

“Swearing allows us to cope with emotions like anger and frustration,” said Timothy Jay, professor emeritus of psychology at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and author of Why We Curse ("Why do we fight?") and Studying in America ("Curses in America").

Swear words often bring people closer together

“I think of curse words as a toolbox,” Jay emphasized. “We can use them in different ways in different situations for personal or social gain.”

It seems that well-used swearing can bring unexpected social benefits.

“Some people believe that profanity helps break social taboos in a harmless way and create a relaxed atmosphere in which people feel part of a group,” says Ben Bergen, a professor of cognitive science at the University of California, San Diego, and the author of What the F: What Swearing Reveals About Language, Our Brains, and Ourselves ("Holy Shit: What Curses Reveal About Language, Our Brains, and Ourselves").

"Similarly, swearing can make others believe a person is being honest because he or she is expressing what he or she really thinks," Bergen added.

In support of this idea, we can cite a series of studies published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science. These studies found a positive relationship between the use of profanity and honesty. The researchers concluded that “swearing was associated with less lying and cheating” and higher levels of personal integrity.

In another series of studies published in the journal Psychology, Crime & Law, the scientists found that using swear words in court testimony made the participants more persuasive than the same testimony without profanity.

In the right context, swearing can help strengthen social bonds. In a study of workers at a New Zealand soap factory, researchers recorded their daily conversations and found that when the expression “…your mother!” was used in the workplace to express a complaint or disagreement, it fostered a sense of unity among employees.

The main thing is not to overdo it

People who use profanity too often are sometimes perceived as angry, hostile, or aggressive, so there is a fine line to the use of swear words.

It is also very important to consider your audience.

“Observing how others use language is usually a good first step in a new environment,” Bergen said. “It’s not just whether people use swear words or not. It’s how they use them and what specific words they use. Is this a situation where mild swearing is the norm? Do people respond positively to it? Does everyone use swear words or just certain people?”

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According to Jay, the etiquette of swearing depends on the social hierarchy and power dynamics in certain situations, such as the workplace. Just because your boss uses strong language doesn't always mean you can get away with it. (It's definitely worth changing your language around small children.)

Being mindful of how swear words are used in different situations can help you build more productive relationships.

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