Swearing has been around for centuries and is an almost universal human linguistic phenomenon. Now researchers have determined that swearing can have a 'pain-lessening effect.' Swearing taps into emotional brain centers and appears to arise in the right brain, whereas most language production occurs in the left cerebral hemisphere of the brain. The research shows one potential reason why swearing developed and why it persists.
While swearing is often a common response to pain, Richard Stephens and his Keele University colleagues, John Atkins and Andrew Kingston, were surprised to discover that no links had been established between swearing and the actual experience of physical pain.
Since swearing often has a 'catastrophising' or exaggerating effect, serving to embellish or overstate the severity of pain, Stephens and his team hypothesized that swearing would actually decrease the individual's tolerance of pain. "Swearing has been around for centuries and is an almost universal human linguistic phenomenon" says Dr Richard Stephens "It taps into emotional brain centers and appears to arise in the right brain, whereas most language production occurs in the left cerebral hemisphere of the brain. Our research shows one potential reason why swearing developed and why it persists."
Enlisting the help of 64 undergraduate volunteers, the team set out to test their theory. Each individual was asked to submerge their hand in a tub of ice water for as long as possible while repeating a swear word of their choice; they were then asked to repeat the experiment, this time using a more commonplace word that they would use to describe a table. Despite their initial expectations, the researchers found that the volunteers were able to keep their hands submerged in the ice water for a longer period of time when repeating the swear word, establishing a link between swearing and an increase in pain tolerance.
While it isn't clear how or why this link exists, the team believes that the pain-lessening effect occurs because swearing triggers our natural 'fight-or-flight' response. They suggest that the accelerated heart rates of the volunteers repeating the swear word may indicate an increase in aggression, in a classic fight-or-flight response of 'downplaying feebleness in favor of a more pain-tolerant machismo.' What is clear is that swearing triggers not only an emotional response, but a physical one too, which may explain why the centuries-old practise of cursing developed and still persists today.
The study was published in the NeuroReport journal.
If this subject appeals to you, might we suggest this excellent article on swearing at Howstuffworks and though we suggest you never be discourteous when a guest in a foreign country, as it can sometimes result in premature death, the Little Book of Essential Foreign Insults is an essential phrase book to ensure you can authentically deliver the message when you absolutely need to, wherever you might be.
