Many previous experiments have revealed that swearing can increase one's pain tolerance. UK researchers Richard Stevens and Olly Robertson thought of experimenting with a 'twist' by throwing in two swear words which they invented.
They tested their invented words" fouch" and "twizpipe" in a cold pressor experiment to see whether they would produce the same effects of other more popular swear words.
A total of 92 participants with a median age of 27 took part in the experiment. The subjects were asked to submerge one hand in an ice water bath maintained at three to five degrees Celsius. They were asked to repeat a designated word while keeping their hand in the water.
Depending on the condition, subjects were assigned either a neutral word, the "F" word, the invented swear word "fouch", or "twizpipe." The participants were asked to report when they started sensing pain and only to withdraw their hand from the ice bath once they deemed the pain unbearable.
The researchers found that repeating the "F" word during an ice water experiment increased the subjects' tolerance and threshold for pain. On the other hand, reciting made-up swear words showed no advancement in giving off pain-reducing effects. The findings of the study were published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology.
Also Read : New Research Reveals Compound That Eliminates Chronic Pain in Mice; Promising Development for Medicine
Swearing Increases Pain Tolerance
Emma Byrne, the author of a book entitled 'Swearing Is Good for You: The Amazing Science of Bad Language,' says that new research reveals that profanity has many positive merits. She writes that promoting trust, teamwork, and increasing one's tolerance to pain are just some of the benefits of swearing.
According to Amy Cooper Hakim, an industrial-organizational psychologist, swearing sends a message to the brain's amygdala, which triggers the fight or flight response. This response then gives off a burst of energy that allows a person to endure a painful or difficult task.
Additionally, the researchers said that the study results showed that repeating the "F" word also increased the subjects' threshold for pain.
The Benefits of Cursing
As children, many people have been told by their parents that swearing is wrong. As grown-ups, most people end up doing it anyway. And it's okay. In fact, some experts even say that cursing can be useful for you.
The HuffPost reports that, according to numerous studies, cursing can make you perform better when exercising and give you a sense of calm. Neel Burton, an author and psychiatrist, based in Oxford, England, says that dropping some curse combs can increase blood circulation, elevate endorphins, and give an overall sense of control, calm, and well-being.
Furthermore, experts claim that cursing is indicative of being intelligent, as it is associated with having a vast knowledge of vocabulary. Researchers who have conducted studies on swearing also claim that the habit may have something to do with the person possessing a higher IQ.
Moreover, another study also says that cursing could mean that a person is honest, as researchers have found that people who curse often lie less and have higher levels of integrity.
As experts and scientists have it, swearing may not sound like music to the ears, but at the same time, it isn't entirely wrong and might even be of help for other people.
