The advantages of swearing are many, said Timothy Jay, professor emeritus of psychology at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, who has studied swearing for more than 40 years. No matter what you say, they've been there, done that. Polite society considers swearing to be a vulgar sign of low intelligence and education, for why would one rely on rude language when blessed with a rich vocabulary? Researchers throughout the years have studied the use of curse words and according to some, dropping a well-placed expletive can be a sign of honesty or an indication of a high pain tolerance. Something about the utter carelessness of the world around you just screams, "I'm an idiot!". Keen observation plus the ability to reflect have been the drivers of human progress. First published on January 26, 2021 / 2:33 PM. The use of obscene or taboo language - or swearing, as it's more commonly known - is often seen as a sign that the speaker lacks vocabulary, cannot express themselves in a less offensive way, or even lacks intelligence. We do know patients who have strokes on the right side tend to become less emotional, less able to understand and tell jokes, and they tend to just stop swearing even if they swore quite a lot before, Emma Byrne, the author of Swearing Is Good for You, said. 1. "It seems that as soon as you have a taboo word, and the emotional insight that the word is going to cause discomfort for other people, the rest seems to follow naturally," Byrne said. Yet, the more you know, the more you realize how little you know. "A dog or a cat will scratch you, bite you when they're scared or angry," he said. January 26, 2021 / 2:33 PM Chimpanzees in the wild tend to use their excrement as a social signal, one thats designed to keep people away, Byrne said. Want to push through that workout? Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book.". "The advantages of swearing are many," said Timothy Jay, professor emeritus of psychology at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, who has studied swearing for more than 40 years. "The advantages of swearing are many," said Timothy Jay, professor emeritus of psychology at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, who has studied swearing for more than 40 years. Well-educated people with plenty of words at their disposal, a 2015 study found, were better at coming up with curse words than those who were less verbally fluent. Science has also found a positive link between profanity and honesty. Stephens said it works like this: Cussing produces a stress response that initiates the bodys ancient defensive reflex. "In other words, I can give somebody the finger or say f**k you across the street. An inability to cope with emotionally-charged situations can be an indicator of low EQ. It has that advantage of emotional efficiency -- it's very quick and clear.". It's not just people who swear. We do know patients who have strokes on the right side tend to become less emotional, less able to understand and tell jokes, and they tend to just stop swearing even if they swore quite a lot before, Emma Byrne, the author of Swearing Is Good for You, said. Severe Weather Take people who are more afraid of pain, called catastrophizers. A catastrophizer, Stephens explained, is someone who might have a tiny wound and think, Oh, this is life threatening. Swearing can also be associated with social intelligence, Jay added. Swearing appears to be centered in the right side of the brain, the part people often call the "creative brain.". His books have chronicled character and characters, in war and peace, sports and art, tragedy and comedy. Swearing may be a sign of honesty. Research on swearing dates back to Victorian times, when physicians discovered that patients who lost their ability to speak could still curse. Find free courses on Python, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and more. Why do we choose to swear? A flush of adrenaline increases heart rate and breathing, prepping muscles for fight or flight. People that are good at language are good at generating a swearing vocabulary.. That reality is universally recognized: Just about every language in the world contains curse words. Of course not. These tests target your reasoning, logic, processing, and so on. Science has also found a positive link between profanity and honesty. Even if you provide them with proof that they are wrong, they will argue that your facts are wrong. In other words, I can give somebody the finger or say f**k you across the street. While a higher rate of profanity use was associated with more honesty, the study authors cautioned that "the findings should not be interpreted to mean that the more a person uses profanity, the less likely he or she would engage in more serious unethical or immoral behaviors. Having the strategies to know where and when its appropriate to swear, and when its not, Jay said, is a social cognitive skill like picking the right clothes for the right occasion. Stephens is a senior lecturer at Keele University in Staffordshire, England, where he leads the Psychobiology Research Laboratory. "People that are good at language are good at generating a swearing vocabulary.". Cussing is a sign of creativity Well-educated people with plenty of words at their disposal, a 2015 study found, were better at coming up with curse words than those who were less verbally fluent. As such, having low EQ or low emotional intelligence can negatively impact not only your interpersonal relationships but also your mental and physical health. I don't have to get up into their face.". Swearing may be a sign of honesty. People who cursed lied less on an interpersonal level, and had higher levels of integrity overall, a series of three studies published in 2017 found. "We do know patients who have strokes on the right side tend to become less emotional, less able to understand and tell jokes, and they tend to just stop swearing even if they swore quite a lot before," Emma Byrne, the author of "Swearing Is Good for You," said. Polite society considers swearing to be a vulgar sign of low intelligence and education, for why would one rely on rude language when blessed with a rich vocabulary? Decades ago, that choice may have been more influence. The professor - this is an effing professor, mind you - says that swearing, cursing, sets off a jolt of adrenaline, which reinforces the body's hallowed defense reflex. It's not a sign of low intelligence. "The headline message is that swearing helps you cope with pain," said lead author and psychologist Richard Stephens, in a prior CNN interview. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. "Cursing is just a way of expressing your feelings that doesn't involve throwing actual sh*t. You just throw the idea of sh*t around.". "They swore incredibly fluently," Byrne said. All rights reserved. Thats a sign of intelligence to the degree that language is correlated with intelligence, said Jay, who authored the study. If they fail an assignment, break a window, don't get the job, or burn dinner, somehow, someway they will make it someone else's fault. Polite society considers swearing to be a vulgar sign of low intelligence and education. Want to push through that workout? It helps us understand the causality behind events. Put them in a novel situation where theyre required to think on their feet and watch them crumble. Whereas with women there wasnt any difference., Swearing appears to be centered in the right side of the brain, the part people often call the creative brain.. Amy Morin, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and international bestselling author. Having the strategies to know where and when its appropriate to swear, and when its not, Jay said, is a social cognitive skill like picking the right clothes for the right occasion. Simultaneously, there is another physiological reaction called an analgesic response, which makes the body more impervious to pain. Swearing allows us to express our emotions symbolically without doing it tooth and nail. Want to push through that workout? Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. This content was republished with permission from CNN. While a higher rate of profanity use was associated with more honesty, the study authors cautioned that "the findings should not be interpreted to mean that the more a person uses profanity, the less likely he or she would engage in more serious unethical or immoral behaviors. The mind assimilates information as beliefs and then goes about confirming those beliefs. The headline message is that swearing helps you cope with pain, said lead author and psychologist Richard Stephens, in a prior CNN interview. "People that are good at language are good at generating a swearing vocabulary.". People on bikes who swore while pedaling against resistance had more power and strength than people who used neutral words, studies have shown. It's not just people who swear. Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of our lives, revolutionizing the way we work, communicate, and navigate the world around us. That perception, as it turns out, is full of, uh baloney. They frequently turn a blind eye to the long-term consequences of their present behaviors. Research on swearing dates back to Victorian times, when physicians discovered that patients who lost their ability to speak could still curse. Spouting obscenities doesnt just help your endurance: If you pinch your finger in the car door, you may well feel less pain if you say sh*t instead of shoot.. A dog or a cat will scratch you, bite you when theyre scared or angry, he said. 5425 Wisconsin Ave You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here. PsychMechanics 2023 All Rights Reserved. Participants were asked to list as many words that start with F, A or S in one minute. Stephens is a senior lecturer at Keele University in Staffordshire, England, where he leads the Psychobiology Research Laboratory. "In other words, I can give somebody the finger or say f**k you across the street. "That would make evolutionary sense because you're going to be a better fighter and better runner if you're not being slowed down by concerns about pain," Stephens said. People who cursed lied less on an interpersonal level, and had higher levels of integrity overall, a series of three studies published in 2017 found. Does that mean that we should curse whenever we feel like it, regardless of our environment or the feelings of others? Contests & Promotions, 2023, The Networks of Mid-Missouri Columbia, MO USA, Several counties running out of time to expunge certain marijuana charges as deadline ends Thursday. Studies have shown, however, that swearing may in fact display a more, rather than less, intelligent use of language. Emotional intelligence (sometimes referred to as "emotional quotient" or "EQ") is essential to basically every aspect of life. That's a pretty sophisticated social tool.". 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