Most of us enjoy letting profanity fly here and there. Why? Because it feels good. Now, science has finally given some legitimacy to our favourite expressions, and it's all thanks to a new study from researchers at Keele University in the UK.
According to the research, swearing boosts people’s physical performance, enabling them to score better in tests of strength and endurance.
“In some ways, the research confirms what we know as common sense – that swearing can give us a boost when we need it," Dr Richard Stephens, who led the study, told BBC Science Focus. “The way I express it is to say that swearing is a cheap, readily available, drug-free means of self-help.”
To uncover this effect, the team ran two experiments involving 192 participants. In the first, volunteers performed a chair push-up – lifting their body weight from a seated position using only their arms – while repeating a swear word every two seconds.
Each participant also completed the task under identical conditions, but using a neutral word instead. Some did the swearing test first, while others led with the neutral word.
The results were unequivocal: when people swore, they could support their body weight longer.
Stephens believes this performance-enhancing effect stems from people becoming more disinhibited when swearing. “Becoming more disinhibited counters hesitancy, so that we don’t hold back and instead, we go for it,” he said.
The same effect was supported by post-test questionnaires. When swearing, participants reported higher levels of ‘psychological flow’ – a state in which people become deeply and enjoyably absorbed in an activity.
“This paper picks up from research in the 1960s, which found that shouting, loud noise, alcohol and other interventions boosted physical strength and suggested it did so by reducing inhibitions,” Stephens added.
But what is it about swear words that gives them this power? Stephens argued that it “must be linked to the taboo-ness” of them. Many swear words are even “double taboos,” he continued – they’re not only socially unacceptable to say in certain settings, but often relate to other taboos like sex.
The team now plans to probe the effect further by examining how a word’s taboo status influences pain tolerance. In other words, they are searching for the ultimate swear word – the one that wields the most power.
For now, though, you may be wondering whether you should be swearing more in your life. According to the science, the answer is yes.
“Our finding that swearing leads to performance benefits, through making us more disinhibited in the moment, means that we think the effect will generalise to other situations where success depends on overcoming hesitation,” Stephens said.
“Repeating a swear word at key moments, particularly when we feel challenged or outside our comfort zone, may serve as a strategic tool… In doing so, it empowers us to perform closer to our full potential and, ultimately, to achieve greater success.”
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