Results: Only the F-word had any effect on pain outcomes. The team also measured the subjects’ pain threshold, and asked them to indicate when they started to feel pain while in the ice water. Those who chanted the F-word had to wait longer before indicating that they felt pain – in other words, swearing raised their pain threshold. Chanting “Fouche” or “Twizpipe” had no effect on any of the measures.
F@%*-go for it
For this latest study, Stephens was interested in investigating potential mechanisms for swearing as a (usually negatively viewed) form of inhibition, based on his team’s 2018 and 2022 papers showing that swearing can improve strength in a chair push-up task. “In many situations, people consciously or unconsciously hold themselves back from using their full potential,” Stephens said. “By swearing, we break down social barriers and allow ourselves to try harder in different situations. Swearing is a readily available way to help yourself feel focused, confident, less distracted, and a little more ‘go for it’.”
In two separate experiments, participants were asked to select a swear word that they would typically use after tossing their head, and to select a more neutral word to describe an inanimate object such as a table. Then they performed the above chair push-up task: sitting on a sturdy chair and placing their hands under their thighs with their fingers pointing inward. They then lifted their feet off the floor and straightened their arms to support their body weight for as long as possible, uttering either a swear word or a neutral word every two seconds. Next, the subjects competed in a questionnaire to assess various aspects of their mental state during the task.
The results: Subjects who swore during the task could maintain their body weight for longer than those who only repeated neutral words. This confirms results reported from similar studies in the past. Additionally, subjects reported an increased sense of psychological “flow”, distraction, and confidence, which are all indicators of increased disinhibition.
“These findings help explain why abuse is so common,” Stephens said. “Swearing is virtually a calorie-neutral, drug-free, low-cost, readily available tool when we need a performance boost.” The team next plans to explore the impact of abuse on public speaking and romantic behavior, as these are situations where most people are more hesitant and less confident in themselves, and therefore more likely to hold back.
DOI: American Psychologist, 2025. 10.1037/amp0001650 (About DOI).
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