According to the NeuroReport medical journal, there seems to be a link between swearing and the ability to tolerate extended periods of pain. A recent study featuring a group of 67 college student volunteers had the students immerse their hands in icy water. The students were encouraged to say whatever they wanted while enduring the cold, but the students who swore were found to be able to keep their hands immersed for about 40 seconds longer than the non-swearing students did.
“I suspect that swearing taps into a defensive reflex in which an animal that is suddenly injured or confined erupts in a furious struggle, accompanied by an angry vocalization, to startle and intimidate an attacker,” says Psychologist Steven Pinker of Harvard University. Whatever the reason, we all do it when we experience pain, to a greater or lesser extent. But the question remains: does the actual word itself matter?
There would have to be an existing acknowledgement that a particular word is used as a swear word. If non-French-speaking volunteers were told to use the word merde, for instance, even if they knew that it was used as a swear word, would it have the same beneficial effect? And this study recorded prolonged pain — I’m interested in a study that examines sudden, unexpected pain. I also take issue with the idea that swearing relieves pain — this sounds more like tolerance, which is a different thing altogether. But hey, at least now I have an excuse to let loose the next time I stub my toe on that table leg that always catches me when entering the kitchen. I’ll just blame my foul mouth on science.
Comments
kent
July 14th, 2009 - 9:55:24 AM
i think swearing can certainly be cathartic, and who knows, maybe it distracts you a bit from the pain at the same time. you know, coming up with clever swears keeps your from thinking of your freezing cold hand, or something. who knows
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