[BLEEP!] That hurts!

OMG, swearing is ESSENTIAL for those going through failed infertility treatments and/or miscarriages. Swearing online with my fellow infertile myrtles helped me cope with the staggering physical and emotional pain of losing two second-trimester pregnancies and having 6 failed intrauterine inseminations and 5 failed in vitro fertilization attempts (IVF).

Anyone who thinks my swearing was unnecessary or distasteful should walk a mile in my infertile shoes!

H- yeah! I so F-- agree with this one. Sorry mom!

Yes, I swear when I stub my toe, (but I try to contain myself in public). I'm a little afraid that a study like this will give people permission to swear whenever they like, not just in painful situations.

Boxers get hit and hurt, they punch back which has the effect of reducing pain. probably related to adrenalin. Swearing is a form of punching back. Anger is similar, it masks the pain of an insult until you calm down and are left with the pain.

"Sticks and stones can break my bones but names can never hurt me."

Since the meaning of any communication is determined by the interpretation of the receiver.....swearing can only "offend" if one allows it to.

Or to paraphrase William Shakespeare; "No thing is either good nor bad except that we make it so"

Live With Intention
Dr Bill Toth

It is more likely that yelling increases pain tolerance. The words yelled do not matter.

Darn-it! Is that all you say? When that happends to me I sometimes make up expletives not to mention the many derivitives of the F*** word. Sure makes me feel better.

I have a Comercial Drivers License, and I don't have a Potty mouth because I am a "truck driver" I have one because I am a Marine!

Swearing also serves to defuse anxieties!

I always wonder what a person with Tourette's Syndrome would say if they were never in their lives exposed to conventional profanity.

Also, for all you people who think these are dirty words. They are not. We have decided they are for some odd reason. George Carlin is 100% correct about these words. Thats all they are–words.

I am an Ivy-League educated 41 year old, and I am one of those people who decorate my casual conversation with F-notes for emphasis and color (e.g. "now THAT is f-ing hilarious!"). Needless to say, I swear when I'm hurt, too. I think swearing helps release emotion and tension, and its use in everyday speech helps emphasize the words to follow. I think it also adds a bit of levity to the conversation, and we all like to make people laugh or smile.

Of course, use it in the wrong circles (e.g. holier-than-thou religious types, or when a child is presen – ugh), and you are toast.! Once, I heard a hilarious exchange between two guys, one who had his 3 year-old with him) at a ball-game. The firsts guy says, "Do you believe how f-ing hot it is?" The second guy becomes outraged, points at his son, and says, "HEY! Watch your mouth! I've got my f-ing kid here!" He immediately realized the irony and they both about fell out of their seats laughing.

If we take away the negativity of swearing, is it swearing at all? Would the study be legitimate in that case? Even if it was "acceptable" to swear only when injured, it may not have the same effects. The possibility is that the mind may not think about the pain as much if the person is worried that they will "get in trouble" if someone hears them swear. People grow up learning that some words are swear words and you don't say them, and will get punished if they are said. If you take that away, the pain threshold may not be increased at all.

I beg your pardon..... why make the "truckdriver" reference ????? It is unbecoming of ANYONE to generalize..as a doctor you should know that after all I assume your educated.

Swearing may not be a bad thing in order to serve as an outlet for peeople's pain, but it becomes bad when swearing is targeted towards people and not towards your baby pinky toe. Interesting study, thank you for the blog.

I don't think it would work as well if it were socially acceptable.

BTW, is there a bibliography entry for this study? I'd like to actually read it, and a conventional citation would make it easier to look up.

Well, I've always known swearing helped me when I was in pain! But never thought I'd get "back-up" from the scientific community.

It sure as hell helps me!

I think this is hogwash. Try the study again, but this time have the participants just scream their heads off, instead of swearing. I'll bet that they can endure the discomfort even longer.

This is yet another example of modern day science's tendency to "prove" what the scientists want to believe.

I believe it's true about swearing taking the pain away. I work construction and pinch fingers, smack shins, stub toes often. Swearing about it is part of the job.

Cursing does seem to help in pain situations. It helps me and others I know. It also is natural and helps many of us adjust to sudden surprises and to frustrating situations. No, we don't know why, but WTF, if it helps don't knock it.

It's normal for anyone to swear when you stub your toe I never swear
except when someting painfully physical or emotional happens

The part where they point out swearing is extremely personal (words vary) is the most salient and relevant; It's not the usage of a word that society considers "bad" which is lessening the pain – this isn't any justification for swearing.

Notice: All curse words are short, and have harsh consonants

How about the ones rhyming with "truck", or "punt", or "hit" ?
Compare the sound, and exertion of voice needed for those with "glossy" or "smooth" or "colonial", which might have been used to describe a table.

Making NOISE, not saying specifically ugly words is what lessens pain, because you're taking your mind off it by doing something engaging.

Another example of a poorly executed (or reported on) study. Where is the control group that used words other than swear words? Could it be that saying something, anything, over and over forces you to breath more, or otherwise distracts you from the pain? No control that isolates curse words as having the benefit as opposed to any words, or even non-sense words. It is a shame we waste so much money on these poorly conceived and executed "studies".

I've just sent my wife a link to this.

After accidentally closing the door on my finger last night, I'd say BOTH - as evidenced by my perceived increased tolerance of the pain and the fallout over my choice of words. I know I didn't make Mom proud, but I would say my thumb was happier.

I wonder if it's really the swear word or just the fact that the individual is expressing his/her pain. I would think screaming or using other exclaimation-type words would have the same effect. I had a friend who used to scream the national anthem when she got hurt. Not only did it express her pain, it was damn funny. I seriously doubt this study will make people look at swear words in a new light–as if exclaiming them in pain makes them moral versus just using them all the time. Please. By all means, people, use your words, but don't turn it into an ethical argument.

I sure hope my students don't see this. They already use plenty of language- they may try to use it as an excuse to swear more. Despite the results of this study, swearing will continue to be taboo in many workplaces and circumstances.

On another note, the science teacher in me notes a few details missing from this blog. First, how many people were actually involved in sticking their hand in freezing water? Were enough people involve in the experiment to be considered a true experiment? Is there another explanantion for the results? In other words, was it the swearing itself that helped the participants block the pain signals, or was it the fact that they were allowed to express their discomfort through language? In the second test, the author indicated that particpants had to use a word used to describe a table. Sorry, that does not have the same expressive power as an expletive that is almost always associated with discomfort or unhappiness. I don't associate "smooth" or "flat" with pain. Never will.

Excellent article, though.

All I know is that I was able to give birth to my daughter without any pain medication by dropping a few F-bombs.

It works!

D*mn right it's helpful

I swear all the time and miraculously, I still have friends and family who love me. As a professional writer, I am more embarrassed that I can't come up with more original and colorful expressions than the standard dirty words. What would Shakespeare say?! Aside from that, cursing doesn't bother me. I've even found that my cursing has let other people feel more comfortable–they don't have to pretend to be something they're not and can feel free to just be themselves because they assume I won't be shocked by what they have to say. My children use a few questionable words but are under strict orders not to use them publicly or there will be serious consequences. They are only words, after all. And once in a while I will come out with some new expletives that are actually acceptable–try calling someone a son of a mother sometime–it sounds profane yet it's perfectly okay for the kids to use. I fail to see why cursing is such a big deal–it just releases anger and frustration and no one gets hurt.

Allowing oneself to get angry and to openly express it is the secret. It's the high energy venting that reduces the pain. The elevated emotional state releases all sorts of anti-pain chemicals as your body prepares to attack and fight.
I've used this method for years to release tension and alleviate pain. I never bottle anything up. Keeping one's anger in and unexpressed is a sure way to create lots of stress on one's system and to cause all sorts of health problems, physical and mental.
I'm 65 and my blood pressure is perfectly normal even though I'm very obese and almost never exercise. Thanks to healthy venting.

Maybe the shorter average time for the second immersion in
freezing water is because it is the *second* time, rather than
the use of swear words. To do this right, they should have
half the participants swear first, and the other half use words
to describe a table.

Swearing will send you to hell. DO NOT SWEAR TO RELIEVE PAIN NOW, THAT YOU WILL PAY FOR LATER!

As a writer i've given a lot of thought to swearing in my fiction. It is a universally recognized shorthand for communicating anger, pain, or panic. It's what many lazy people use when they can't be bothered to think up the exact words to express their feelings. It's quick and decisive. The ending sounds are hard consonants. It feels good to say them, and sometimes to grind them out. Oh phooey doesn't carry the same weight. You can thrust them from your mouth with great force and divert your attention from that throbbing toe. It can also piss off some people, which might be a fringe benefit.

Mark Twain, a world class potty mouth said that 'swearing often provides a relief denied unto prayer'; and that 'every home should have a cussing room'. I have wondered about the value of screaming. Is it possible that cursing is a more controlled scream?

I would think that part of the power in swearing, as far as lessening pain goes, is that the words are some what forbidden in every day use. So let's keep considering them taboo and then when we stub our toes we can use that language to lessen our pain. The study did show that using every day language had no effect on lessening pain.

Why is it that because science comes out with a study that justifies our wrong actions it is should suddenly be acceptable... swearing is distasteful, rude, and shows a lack of education. There are plenty of ways to show emotion and swearing is a poor way to show emotions or feelings. It is interesting that people need a science report to justify their wrong behaviors... Just because it increases our pain tolerance doesn't mean it is suddenly good for us and society. Specific illegal drugs relive pain but now suddenly they are not ok to use... weak argument.

This is an example how unstable we are as a society; a science report has to come out for us to judge what is acceptable or unacceptable. Whatever happened to values and the moral compass does those change with a report? No!!! There is a bright future for the coming generations!!!

Swearing when used during a painful episode is fine. When every other word is swearing during normal conversation that's just boorish.

I am a born and bred potty mouth. Dad's a Marine, Mom's a sailor. It's a stress reliever, a pain reliever, frustration venter, but I am able to control it around others without making myself suffer even more. I swore during labor, during my many miscarriages, when I sprained my ankle, when I broke my arm, when the computer crashes, when my IBS is acting up, when I don't want to get up, etc etc. Maybe it releases endorphines, but I always feel better after a good cussing streak.

Swearing is vital if you work with horses. Barn girls are known for their 'shocking' language. Let me ask you. I you are galloping a horse across a wide open field and he happens to spin on you, you fall to the ground which is not dirty it the one spot but a rock out cropping and you break enough bones to land you in surgery...you know you're broken up badly and will miss a competition the following week...yes you swear up a storm! Swear at the horse, swear at the rock, swear at your broken body...maybe even swear at your friends trying to help you up. ROCK ON CUSS WORDS! They do make you feel better! BUT...there is a time and place for foul language. Grandma's nursing home is not one of those places.

At the pinnicle of the tension from my divorce, I heard on the radio a commentator say that , "Swearing was another form fo stress relief which is acceptable in our society for men, but not for women." To which I exclaimed, "FTS!" From that moment on, I consciously used it as a stress buster and also allowed my children to express themselves through the trauma of divorce in a similar fashion. It can be socially dangerous for children in our society but in our home, they cannot be disrespectful to their parents or to each other but they can express their pain and frustrations in a safe environment.

Its funny but true, I swear when exercising, running with shin splints and biking with lactic acid filled quads, and weight training.. is not a fun feeling.

Swearing is a sign youre pissed. Being Pissed is what makes the pain better. F^%%$ DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's F*&%$$# amazing how many different ways people use words to change the actuality. (wow, I feel so much better now.)

As the great George Carlin pointed out "Some words have the power to offend, and if you in the company of people who are offended by those words, you have no right to say them. But all alone, they are JUST words, and words can never hurt you."

I gave birth to an 11 pound 2 ounce, 21 inch long baby with no drugs, no stitches, nothing.
During my labor & pushing, my midwife didn't flinch when I lobbed a few F-bombs & Sh-t grenades...it kept me calmer & able to focus more.

I'm glad science has backed up what I already knew LOL

MWAHAHAHA in your face mom, i told you swearing helps.

If way back the word F___ was used instead of love would the word love ease the pain today ?? For some the way the word love is used today solves a lot of problems as does the F___ word..A rose by any other name..

I would curse when the big, bad dentist hurts me but all I can get out is "mywygforfolk"

I used to swear, now that I am a practicing Christian, when in pain I say "Praise the Lord".

There is absolutely NOTHING better for instant pain relief than a lot of good cursing. "Pain relief" covers many topics and I have confidence that using my favorite expression, "well, for F....'s Sake! keeps my blood pressure low.

This study ignores the social dimension of language. People are offended by others who are swearing. What effect does that have? Would it make any difference to have a stern, maternal image in the room – i.e. reminding you not to swear? Or would the pain threshold change if someone stood in the room and frowned as you shouted the expletives? Language is not just self expression. It communicates to others, so other people are involved. And community standards of decency do apply when you're out in public.

I am 53 years old and recently diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer. I will be undergoing a double mastectomy and reconstruction in August. I am sure I will be doing plenty of cursing – and crying – after surgery. If you are offended by my language, I apologize in advance; my advice is listen with an understanding ear and don't make remarks, and don't judge me. Be thankful it's not you.

Ask any WWII vet what the reply was when asked to surrender by the Germans. The reply is usually two words containing only seven letters.

I sneezed and ripped all my back muscles. The pain was horrible and they took me to the hospital in an ambulance. Every time I hit a bump or they moved me, I screamed at the top of my lungs, Mother F-–.
I don't do that! I mean it was totally involuntary, it just came out of my mouth. Now I know why. Thank you CNN.

Obviously some people should read the study again. It clearly explains in the study that there was a control group where the individuals were asked to repeat a non-curse word in the same fashion. Hope that helps.

Unfortunately, swearing does seem to ease the painful stimulus at the time.

Swearing in my line of work is a routine part of our vocab. I have worked in a state prison for 15 years now. Sometimes used to express anger, Frustation, Stress, surprise ( "get the f**k out of here"), and pain. In one way or another it is a type of release that we all enjoy, And we All use, sometimes without even realizing it.

I think it's distasteful. If you want to swear, have the decency to make sure no one is around. I get tired of hearing people swear every other word. Once in a while it's ok if you stub your toe or something but some people make it part of their every day vocabulary and it's just obnoxious, lacks refinement and finess and really makes that person look illiterate.

I think it is more the emotional release or the brain focusing on the language center for a moment that helps with pain. At the same time, studies have shown that getting worked up (i.e. crying, panicking, hyperventilating) makes pain worse by stimulating the cerebral cortex. The calmer you remain the less physical pain you actually feel. I would rather feel less pain than be able to tolerate it longer.

Using profanities happens when people are angry or in pain, but to say that peppering your conversation with it adds color isn't acceptable. First, it is so overused that it lacks shock value anymore and it shows a weak vocabulary. If you want to add color to your conversation, try the Shakespearean Insult generator. I find the use of obscenities in casual conversation a sign of someone being trashy and no matter how educated you are it makes you seem limited language wise. I was brought up that using bad language in front of other people is a sign that you don't have respect for that person.
If it is something you don't want your children to say or you mother to hear you say, then do you really need to say it?

When I get off the phone with continuously rude and/or hateful customers or a customer who's gone overboard in their demands, I swear "at them" and "about them" in the privacy of my cubicle. It helps a lot. My nearest coworkers who think I am a pretty nice lady just laugh and say I swear like a sailor. They understand and often do the same thing.

I don't use swear words in conversation as adjectives or verbs, but only in the ways this study suggests, and yes, it helps to release the anger and frustration that I cannot direct towards the people who deserve it. It's always a a private turrets episode.

It's good to know a study shows its effectiveness.

I bet that George Carlin is smiling somewhere right about now. I was raised in a household with a mild mannered father (never heard the man swear) and a southern belle mom, from Georgia. The ONLY times I heard my mom swear were exactly what this study shows... when she stubbed her toe or if she spilled hot water on herself while making coffee. It looks like my mom instinctively knew what she was doing.

Of course swearing helps! Almost any emotional outlet within reason helps in difficult situations – had a good cry lately?
What's interesting is what people term as a bad word. The F-word is pretty much universally reviled, but for many years I had a small farm and also worked with wildlife, and everyone I've ever met refers to "s-" . On the rare occasion when a newcomer would say "dung" it would produce laughter among those present, and "scat" simply provoked head-scratching confusion!

Swearing is just words. it's not boorish, offensive, rude, etc. It doesn't mean a thing as far as people are concerned – only the individual who says it. Swear words are no different than saying chair@#%$#@ when one stubs their toe if the emphasis is on gettting out that raw feeling of pain.

I live in a tony suburb and I can't tell you how many moms/dads are SO upset when they hear any little johnny or janey swearing. They don't care if little johnny or janey are saying unkind/mean/derogatory words to their fellow peer – just swear words – as if somehow that is so much worse to one's ears.And meanwhile mom/dad are either stealing from the public, cheating on their spouses, spreading rumors, etc. Even the media are so worried about offending someone's sensitive ears – they block all swearing from this type of comments section – which as far as I'm concerned is hypocritical censorship. Oh, well @#$%@! LOL.

I feel this is completely true! Not just with physical pain but also with emotional pain! It really helps when driving and some one scares the crap out of you by cutting in front of you, screaming "F- you" really calms me down Now I have a friend who swares whenever she feels like it, it used to be hilarious but now I just find it repulsive... there are certain times and places to curse! Thanks for the Study

The last paragraph states everything you need to know about this society...and where it's heading.
No personal responsibility for anything. We are now allowed (almost expected) to do what we want and say what we want, as long as it suits our needs.
I wonder if people would be ok if those curse-words included racial or sexual vulgarities. Because based on what I just read – it's about making us feel better without regard for others around.
Swearing is the language of the simple-minded.

I think it has to do with diverting the brain's attention from what is hurting to thinking of the colorful language and if you, as some others have pointed out, change them to less vulgar versions (mutha fudgecake and son of a beach ball are my faves) it diverts more to the task of manufacturing them and speech than your pain.
I know this was the case when I fractured both wrists falling down icy steps on Christamas eve.

Is "dagnabit" a cuss word? It helps me ...

It's not swearing if it's not considered immoral. If cuss words were stripped of their distasteful connotation that morals have placed upon them, then their use would not be a release.

Just my theory.

Actually, swear words are directly related to "plosives" and "nonplosive" or implosive consonants. I took a diction course in college that stated plosive consonants using a hard g or d ("guh" or "duh"; "puh" or "shuh") are satisfying to emit. Interestingly enough, nonplosives ("mmm" or "nnnn"; "Lllll") are less likely to be formed into a potty word!

Chris apparantly you have never experienced real pain. Try child birth without cursing ! I have fibromylagia and have been in pain for 4 years, 7 months and about 3 weeks... Catch up to me and then we can talk about how cursing is such a "wrong action". It's just a way to deal and quickly release built up anger and frustration without physical side effects. This falls under the category of until you walk in my shoes... Yes there are other ways to release emotion but frankly I'd rather curse than cry.

What else can we make excuses for.

I do not like to curse (have 2 kids), but when I hurt myself, I yell out "farfegnugen!" from that old Volkswagen ad campaign. It is still a F-word and it really does feel good to say it.

I've also noticed that the more vulgar the word, the better the effect. Perhaps this is adrenaline, or even a psychological answer to pain? (after your about 14, "ow" just doesn't seem to cut it as well.)

I agree. I swear too much overall, but when I hurt myself and then swear, I feel better!!!

I agree with Gregory, Someone could scream or do anything similar and it would take someone's mind off of the pain for a bit and have the same effect. I agree, this is just another attempt for scientist's to prove something. Besides, swearing is any word you can think of used in that manner.

Perhaps this is why some otherwise genteel women swear like sailors when giving birth.

F&%$in' – A right, I swear – but I still experience mild to moderate pain as well as erections lasting for more than four hours. I've consulted my physician, and will keep you all posted.

what a tremendous study! it will be fascinating to see a followup that traces brain and physiological effects. but on a species level, maybe the broken nature of our materialistic, fearful now global culture actually led to the perceived increased in swearing, which started in the 60s. f**k that sh*t!!!

I was born and raised in Long Island NY, where swearing was a method of talking dirty and tough so others would not mess with you. Now as a 56 year old chronic pain patient who lays in bed 90 percent of the time, I can assure you that cursing absolutely works in reducing pain, at least for me, as it was also a part of growing up. When young , it is a defense mechanism, and now as an adult it helps to curse at my pain, I feel better after cursing the pain, and NOT people or, something or some higher power, -or whining – "why me?" For some, cursing may cause a release of helpful brain chemicals. If "my $%#@#*&^%$ leg is KILLING me today", I may feel better just letting everyone within earshot hear about it. A simple method of attaining some empathy from others, it just may work for some (especially us New Yorkers). Kurt

When ever I stub a toe under a door, smash a finger in a drawer, trip and fall over an open dishwasher door, fall off the front porch step and sprain my foot,or break teeth while eating chicken thigh, I usually yell out a very loud mother--! along with a very loud grunt. This seems to relieve the shock of the experience and horrible pain. I notice my son will hold real still and bite his lips and for years I have been telling him to say the worst word he can imagine when he gets hurt, I've been telling him that this seems to help me. Hmmm, now it's a fact, that swearing the worst word you can imagine is scientifically a proven relief. Wow, I was right! What's hilarious, last year I had a slip and fall, with multiple facial injuries, 2 broken arms and a shattered knee cap. Didn't swear, not once.

f*%# yeah!!

at age 23 or 24 i slammed my finger in the tailgate of my jeep and my mom was standing right there. i just gritted my teeth. it wasn't till my parents were long gone and i was well into my 40s that i started using "words" to alleviate my pain. it's a distraction and it helps.

I sometimes say things I shouldn't when in pain, just like all of us. But Caitlin, yes, you will be held accountable for what you say.

Question: is this Study going to change your life, is it going to make you swear more, or is it going to make you swear less? the answer is probably neither, sit back, chill the F**k out, and do whatever you do to relax. This isn't going to change any of societies views, and swearing doesn't make you a bad person, nor does it make you a good person. just because someone swears doesn't make that person a homicidal maniac, but some folks avoid a person who swears like they have the plague. Just relax, folks. this too shall pass....

Man! I wish I had known this two days ago when I sat for my second round of pain in the tattoo chair! I might have handled the pain a little better. lol

Some of your readers do not take the time to read the whole article before posting.

For the study, Stephens asked the participants to submerge one hand in nearly freezing water for as long as they could while repeating a curse word. Later the participants submerged the same hand again, this time repeating a word they would use to describe a table. When people were cursing, they kept their hand in the water for 40 more seconds than they could otherwise.

There is a control group the used words other than "curses".

Cheers all

I heartily agree! And instead of apologizing to my mother, I'd like to THANK her for introducing me to this method of pain reduction. When we were kids, my brothers were so wild, she'd regularly chase them and swat at them and just as regularly miss her target. She'd end up whacking her hand into a bannister or a doorjamb and 'break a blood vessel' and then yell out 'bun of a sitch' or 'you birty dastard'. Yes – she was a REVERSE curser!!! But it worked for her and I've taken up the battle cry. Dad-gummit!

Heck yeah, swearing helps. When I fell and broke my back, swearing seemed to be all that was able to help me get back to the house with the pain I was in. The words just popped out, no controlling them. Got the endorphins going!

PS

I dont believe we should all be out there cussing in public to set off bad examples for little ones. We need to figure out how to boost our adreniline even more so without swearing..........

Canadian Cusser

Hey Cranky, don't be mad but some people just aren't meant to be parents, give it up. Just be thankful is wasn't two hundred years ago where they would have burned you alive or beheaded you for being a wtich.

I agree with Ryan @July 13th, 2009 7:46 am ET

I dont think using profanities has any significance. It's just releasing your anger or frustration overall that has these effects and it's different between individuals how they want to express themselves.

Just look at Ned Flanders...

“This removes the morality piece about language. We’re so quick to judge and sometimes our judgment interferes with science. We’re walking around thinking [swearing] is a bad thing…it’s not really.” Stephens agrees. “Swearing has gotten very bad publicity– it’s a negatively construed thing. But the positive aspect of it is swearing self-regulates our emotions. It can have a beneficial effect.”

- So they're saying it shouldn't be seen as being so offensive. But then wouldn't those words lose their power to soothe?

Swear words are just sounds. I could never understand why some people get so upset about swearing as long as it is not around children. F'in rediculous.

Finally, someone speaks my f#%king language!

I think we can all agree that some things in life are morally wrong. And, for those items, it is not a valid argument to say that they are OK because they might make us feel better (or, in this case, perhaps allow us to be more tolerant of pain). Instead, I believe that we are stronger individuals for following our convictions rather than what might 'feel' better.

As for me, why would I choose to compound my life with swear words, when there are so many beautiful aspects of life that go unsaid. Perhaps not everything, but enough.

Good grief. I am officially ashamed of these "scientists".

Anyone with half a brain could figure out that cursing has absolutely nothing to do with pain relief. The temorary relief comes from the tension and release that accompanies a persons curse.

In other words, you will get the same effect by grunting forcefully without the unnecessary cursing. As to why this releaves the pain, real scientists could better explain. However, it may have something to do with how tension can shift blood away from an injured area. Sometimes people will hit something as well, and this likely helps shift blood and attention away from the injury.

Regardless, I hope that scientists will spend their time in a better way than to use science to justify their "potty mouths"!

Swearing does have a place, but needs to stay in its place. I don't have a problem with someone swearing if they hammer their thumb, express embarassment for an error (e.g. misspelling something on an important document, locking their keys in their office), or even express extreme astonishment at something. However, if swearing is used vituperatively against another person, that's where I draw the line. That is offensive and disrespectful.

My mom once told me that if you swear too often, it loses its impact. Save it for something important. That makes sense also. Teenagers using swear words in every sentence don't generate much impact on others. People get bored with it. However, if someone is normally soft spoken and respectful, a swear word in just the right place can have quite a substantial shock value.

IT's not the word, but the emotional release that is helpful... if you scream "CHEESEBURGER" with the same INTENT that you scream the F word, it will help....but if you scream it just to try and and FEEL Silly doing it, it won't help.... it's in the intent....

When I was in college, I had a professor that had a very colorful vocabulary. To the point it almost got him fired when he offended a student... (I was not said student) In an effort to quit cursing, anytime he felt the need to say a bad word, he shouted "CORNFLAKES!"

And he shouted it with as much vim and vigor as if he'd just relinquished the most profane verbal tirade imaginable.... And it worked. He completely stopped cussing, even outside of the campus...

Because the intent manifested itself... he might have SAID "CORNFLAKES" but he was thinking whatever curse word happened to be relevant....

My favorite swear word is actually not a swear word at all... Butterscotch. I don't remember when I started saying it, but for some reason, cursing that word when I dropped a shelf on my foot was soo much more satisfying than any of the more traditional curse words, and it had the added benefit of not having me spouting sailor-talk in front of my new landlady.

I have long understood the power of profanity, which is exactly the reason why you shouldn't use it all the time. Too many people spit the F-word three or four times a sentence, so it loses it potency. What good will it do them when they really need it, like when they drop a shelf on -their- foots or have a really, truly, no-good rotten day? My classmates in High School never understood why I didn't cuss, and I tried to explain to them that I cussed when I needed to–if I cussed all the time, who would know when I really meant it? They finally got to experience what that meant when I had a really bad encounter with one of my teachers and started using expletives in the lunch room. I didn't have to say very many, and I didn't have to say them very loud, but everyone at my table got the message pretty quick that I meant business. Now, if any one of them had sat down at our table using the words and tone I'd used, no one would have noticed because that was just the way they talked anyway–they'd all used up the potency of their profanity.

Im a maintenance mechanic and a former soldier of 14 years. I swear a blue moon about nearly everything, and really dont care about society's retarded misconceptions on swearing, not only does it lessen pain, it makes me feel better!

Da**, my shoulder f'ing hurts.....

Feels better now

I can understand how this phenomena may have evolved.

Consider this:
*Elevated stress and emotional or physical pain cause decreased higher level cognitive ability. Hard wired(instinctual) or subconscious behaviors are likely to emerge uncontrollably in these situations.
*We are a social species, and respond with concern to others of our kind that are in pain or distress.
*A social species would benefit from having a kind of 'yelp' that signals imediate distress as it would increase likelyhood of survival.

I would gather that curse words originated as distress signals, and that using these signals whilst in pain or distress releases a 'reward' of pain reducing chemical to increase the likelyhood of an individual 'yelping' for help. It would also follow that 'crying wolf' or 'yelping' when not distressed would be seen as socially unacceptable since constantly 'yelping' would reduce the benefit of using the 'yelp' as a distress signal(quite possibly why people frown upon cussing in regular conversation).

Interesting note... if cuss words equate distress, then the phrase 'F*** you' could easily translate to '...distress to you'.

I find taking a look at social/biological phenomena from an evolutionary standpoint often quite rewarding!

Swearing is such a non event. I try to not swear (especially in front of my teenager) but there are times when it slips out. Sometimes you have to drop the F-bomb to get your point across! I have pretty much cussed freely since about age 15 and my parents are well aware of it and make jokes at times about my at times colorful vocabulary. It's just not that big of a deal. As an aside, the phrase "my bad" is far more annoying than any curse worde could ever be!

Why is swearing considered so taboo? I can spout off a litany of foul words that arent considered swear words and still bring forth the same effect as if I had said F%$# or S&^%. The only reason I see for these words to be distastefull is that certain people chose these words to be considered foul and distastfull. During the growth of familly organization that came about during and after the great depression these words suddenly became the worst thing anyone could say, never before were these words frowned upon in such a grand scale. There is fundementally nothing wrong with using these four letter words. The only reason they are frowned upon is because they were looked down upon by the American church during the great depression and to this day the primary source of hatred toward these words is from American Christians. Swearing isnt a sin and never was. Nobody ever got killed because of a swear word. Stop living in the golden years and accept that America is beyond these cliches of the past. Open your mind and stop being so dense and simple minded.

I think it's pretty f***in' helpful.

I remember when I cracked my ribs, that was the worst pain I have ever expierenced. My husband and I were just laughing yesterday and the amount of swearing I was doing when that happened. Can't wait till we get pregnant and I'm cussing like a sailor during labor!

Karen, give me a break. I am very sorry to ‘talk trash’ on a message board, but sometimes people are just a little too ignorant. ‘Swearing will send you to hell’ that is one of the most ridiculous comments I have heard in a while. Sure, do not go around using God’s name as a form of ‘swear word’ but do you not understand the nature of language. When your all holy bible was written these words that we use now did not even exist. They are just words, some socially unacceptable… but c’mon who really give a *#%@ing %$#@!

Golf is a four-letter word and I utter many more four-letter words while out on the course. It's a good release of tension.

This is a great article! I laughed out loud at it because I know it's true. I dropped a treadmill on my toe and broke it recently and all I could do was cry and yell out the F word because it hurt so bad. I also have to say that I'm pleasantly surprised at the intelligence of most of the comments. I guess you always get silly stuff like "this will send you to hell" but for the most part people have made thoughtful comments. Good job guys!

I'd bet it has something to do with inhibitions. When we release the swearing inhibition, it probably unlocks a part of our brain that allows more hormone receptors to turn towards pain relief.

I would also bet that people who don't have this inhibition, who casually swear constantly, also don't get the pain relief benefit when it's needed.

If swearing becomes more socially accepted, as this article suggests at the end, wouldn't it lose its effectiveness? Perhaps its effectiveness lies in the pitting of oneself against society in general by use of a word considered unacceptable, and the slight increase of adrenaline due to this increases the pain threshold. Just a thought.

Also, the Shakespeare quote is "Nothing is either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."
I'm not normally one to nitpick, but the way it was quoted below misses the point entirely.

i agree completely!!!!!!

There's a flaw in the logic that says "Swearing reduces pain so hey now it's ok to swear" The REASON swearing reduces pain must have to do with the fact that it's forbidden. Otherwise, shouting synonyms for "table" would have worked just as well in the study. So, if we want swearing to retain its pain-killing power, we must keep swearing forbidden. Watch your mouths, kids.

Dr. Gupta,
This is about the first time I've agreed with you on any f***in' thing. And it's a lot cheaper than buying the b***s*** pharmaceuticals from the a**hole corporations that you shill for. Glad you're not surgeon general, we'll have a hard enough time getting national health care as it is!

It may relieve the stress of the person doing the swearing, but it sure increases mine and that of my family, as by-standers who have to listen to this all the time from a disabled husband. Yes, I understand his flusteration, but it doesn't really help anything for him. Anyway it doesn't seem to.

Could it be that all those Black gangsta hood types that are constantly swearing and offending yuppie white people, are actually in a constant world of pain?

Just last week I was incredibly sick, and sat on the couch for hours just repeating s–t and F-bomb. Somehow I thought it helped.

I can't believe the number of people who apparently didn't read the article properly. They complain that shouting any word or making noise would have the same effect as swearing but the study clearly states participants did the cold water experiment twice.

The first time they shouted a swear word and the second they shouted a non-swear word to describe a table. Participants were able to hold their hand in the cold water up to 40 seconds longer when saying the swear word.

Swearing is not always appropriate but it serves a useful and necessary purpose.

Cussing Thomas

Serenity now!

Karen hit it on the head...at least to the point of why we are brainwashed not to swear...it is based in religeon. Sorry Karen, not all of us beleive swearing will send us to what you call, "hell". Oops – am I allowed to say that? It's a common swear word...are you allowed to say that Karen? Oh yeah, it's just a place right? Well the others are just words. Tell me, what is the difference?

That makes sense. I noticed it a long time ago. Not sure why that is, though.

sometimes, after i've hurt myself, i start to swear. but the words get jumbled up and i end up inventing new swear words. they sound ridiculous and i wind up laughing at myself. but it DOES feel good to get out a few f-bombs now and then.

Jim, you're a snob. Who cares if you're Ivy League schooled.

This is bad science. The exclamation is what is tension reducing. They cannot prove that specific words are what helps. If it makes any of you feel better (including the Ivy Leaguers) and more justified, well, you were going to say it anyway. Ironically, I always believed, Jim, it was a sign of a LACK of education to speak that way.

Ok Ok!!!.........do we say OOHHH.....Look dear!..i just cut my finger off!!!...darn....NO!!!....we say h-!!!..S...!!!..G..!!!..D..!!!..It!!!...i just cut my!!!..f.....!!!.finger off!!!!..so yes Swearing!!!...tell's everyone ..i have a EMR..i have!!!..did a Real Bad Thing Here!!!...to myself!!!..i need HELP!!!...
so yes!!!..it Hurt's!!!..by the way..i'm not afrad to die !!!..i just Don't want to be there when it Happen's!!!!!

there is no place for swearing.....we are an educated-civilized society and we have no place for potty mouths....just makes one look stupid, uneducated and dwarfed in overall use of their God given mind.

Cranky Unterus: I know exactly what you mean. I had several miscarriages and many failed IUI attemps, but we did IVF and it was successful the 1st time. I completely understand the emotional straines it puts on a person not to mention the physicial. I am currently going through fertility treatments again to implant our frozen embryos' in 10 days. I pray for you that you will find success in these treatments.

I've been swearing since I was a little kid. I swear a lot, especially when I'm alone, and almost always when something pisses me off (the car ahead of me goes too slow or my computer freezes or the TV channel goes on the fritz, etc.). I swear in certain company-we all swear. I try very hard not to swear at work, and I almost never do, because I'm always embarrassed after that.

I've tried over the years to cut down on my swearing, and slowly I have managed to do so. It's a hard habit to break. Swearing a little is OK, but swearing in the wrong company alienates people, and swearing too much just looks bad. Life is full of little frustrations, and it's nice to vent a little and enjoy a little swear, but more than that can just be counterproductive.

I like the Mark Twain comment.

Lack of education? Yeah, you don't hear Harvard or Princeton students swearing now do you?! Seriously?

"Oh my heck" just doesn't cut it – any of you with tender ears had best plug them if I stub my toe.

My husband is a soldier and, as is common in the military subculture, he swears every-other-word. I hate it. I swear too, but I don't have a 4-letter word in every sentence. Beyond the constant assault on my ears and the trips to school when my 5-year-old tells a friend to "f.o.", I hate that he swears so much because it makes him sound ignorant. He is far from ignorant, one of the most intelligent people I know in fact, but he presents himself in this way and it is nearly impossible not to make judgments based on the language his chooses.

That being said, I have to wonder if there is a physiological reason for why we swear when we hurt ourselves. You will have to forgive me because it has been awhile since I took physiology, but I remember learning why we rub a "boo-boo," and that it confuses our brains. Essentially, that both impulses are not traveling at the same rate of speed and receiving the sensation of the rubbing decreases the sensation of the discomfort and/or pain. I wonder if the act of producing sound has a similar affect and that is what prompts us to do it?

I find swearing distasteful, I always have and I always will. I think people who swear show a laziness in their vocabulary. They can't think of anything better to say. I have let out a scream, groan or yelp when I stubbed my toe, had a biopsy, had my children and it had the same effect as the 4 letter words in the "study.".

In modern term, this is hogwash. People will believe anything just to justify their BAD behavior. Swearing is wrong no matter what kind of pain your going thru. When Jesus was going thru the pain he was in for us, he was praying for the ones that hurt him. We should be Christ like if we want to make it to heaven,(the place where there is no pain.)I think if this is all you can think of to do reshearch on, then is is a sad time. There are children hungry, and this garbage is all you nuts can find to spend money on. Help our fellow man and tell them that Jesus still saves souls. turn to God while there is still time, and he'll take the bad words from your mouth and fill it with PRAISE.

WOW. I am so relieved. No wonder I don't feel much pain. I've been talking like a sailor since I was 12 years old. Glad I don't have to feel guilty any more! My entire family needs to read this and feel better about themselves. Thanks, Dr. Gupta! You made my ***** day! ;^)

I think it shows a lack of intelligence, and I at times have been pretty stupid.

it's yelling...not swearing...swearing is not required.

I swore throughout the entire process of getting my first tattoo (low on my ankle; the Achilles was a bitch!). It helped, I have no doubt.

I've always felt that swearing = anger. So when someone swears, it seems to me they're expressing some kind of rage. I would guess that expressing rage puts us in a different mode, one of action instead of suffering, which distracts pain centers in our brain.

I'm thinking about Karate competitors. When breaking planks, they let out short audible sounds. And competition weight lifters do too. The heavier the weight, the more sound they utter. But they DON'T swear! This does not justify anything regarding language, but audible utterances probably do help pain.

I think it doesnt really matter what you say when youre in pain, i think its more or less the act of breathing sharply and exhaling rather quickly that reduces the pain.. they should have taken the study further by having the subjects say non-swear words as well as having a trial where they just breath more heavily and sharply..

This is a little off subject, but I would like to use this opportunity to tell everyone who knarks to the store manager about someone swearing in a store to F* off.

If you've never heard a swear word and it HURT you SO bad that you feel you have to knark, then never, ever leave your home. Ever! And get over yourselves. You're not GOD or any diciples. And unless you've lived in a cave your entire life, you have heard a swear word, so quit ACTING like it is so DAMN offensive. YOU are offensive to me, but I don't go around knarking on you. Again, F* off.

Chris – you must be GOD.

I live in Chicago, and they don't exaggerate when they say how horrible the winters are. Whenever I have to walk the 5 blocks to the bus stop and the wind chill is below zero and smacking my face. I swear constantly and that somehow gets me through.

I never thought that there was a relationship between them.

After 20 years in the Navy I became a linguist in four letter words. The difference in swearing then and swearing now is the fact that in the Navy four letter words were used to add emphasis not vulgarity so the query is, what statement would result in a quicker response; get the f__king job done now or get the job done now.

will you a%%holes who say its yelling a word, not the word that matters read the whole thing. He used a word describing part of a table as a control. it's not the act of saying the word.

Hey, Double D....

In both groups that were saying the same thing over and over.

Yeah, well F*** you Paula.

There's a quote about swearing that is attributed to the philosopher Rene Descartes which goes "Civilization began the first time someone threw a word at someone instead of a rock."

I can understand a few contexts in which swearing is understandable (child labor especially! even though I didn't), but my problem is when someone uses swear words as part of a normal conversation. I mean, is it really necessary? Especially those folks who feel the need to interject the ever-favorite "F" at every possible chance. Please don't assume that the rest of the world is comfortable hearing those words, and if nothing else, watch your language when there are children around.

This is interesting. I am not a saint. Generally speaking though I rarely use foul language however...over the last three years I have progressively became restricted physically due to a condition that is creating pain throughout my body. I never know what I will wake up to or that I will even be able to sleep or if I am having a half decent day when I will be hit with an episode of attacks. Attacks that cause severe pain to my neck, legs, arms, shoulders, hands, back, migraines and severe memory loss is also mixed in which demands that I carry a digital voice recorder to remind me of trivial daily matters. In recent months my neurologist finally widened their scope after tremors were being noticed but months before I began to exert out of the blue a change almost out of character for me and that was when the pain began I would become more verbal using more harsh language (not directed at anyone) just words said out loud. I have refused narcotic pain meds. my memory loss is bad enough without the fog of dope. But those around me feared that my use of foul language was a negative sign and seeing this report today may be one less thing for me to hindered with knowing that it actually may help to relieve the mounting stress and emotions that the body stores in trying to cope with pain while at the same time I try to be congenial and considerate toward others.

Well put TM, I f***ing agree with you abso-f***ing-utely 100%. Too f***ing many swear words is just f***ing boorish as f***.
I don't f***ing know about you people, but I sure as f***ing hell know that I have heard waaaaay f***ing too many f***ers who use the F-word as every other f***ing word for no f***ing good reason. Those f***ers are just f***ing annoying. You f***ing know what the f*** I'm f***ing talking about. Using f***ing swear words are f***ing okay as f***ing long as you only f***ing use them every once in a f***ing while. For f***ing pain relief, hell f***ing yeah!!! Just don't f***ing over-f***ing do it, because when you get to the f***ing point that you can't f***ing make a f***ing sentence without using the f***ing F-word, then nobody wants to f***ing listen to you any f***ing more. Then it's about as f***ing bad as those f***ers who USE CAPITAL LETTERS FOR NO F***ING GOOD REASON, or those f***ers who use too many f***ing exclamation points!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We all have a natural propensity to heal, and we all have a natural propensity to swear when hurt. Makes all the sense in the world – thanks for the research!!!

Swearing can be helpful when used seldomly, but I find it is unnecessary and distasteful when I see kids and adults used it constantly.

I just sent this article to my wife

Just another excuse for bad behavior...!!! What’s next? Punching someone?

I am no scientist but I can definitely see how swearing can have a positive effect in such a negative moment. I seem to yell the loudest or be able to let out the most emotion with the naughtiest of words, something about yelling F********K!!!!! at the top of my lungs seems to be much easier than "I AMM IN SOOO MUCHHH PAIN!!!"....could it simply be the ease of which saying these words because of they are one syllable?

I believe that swearing is inappropriate and distasteful. One of the problems with society today is that the lines that one existed keep getting greyer and thinner. I could hurt my toe and shout out "Holy Shrimp" and it would have the same effect as "sh *@" Shouting out to express that pain is release we know that releasing emotions is better than harboring emotions. Swearing is offensive – let's not use scientific studies to rationalize unacceptable behavior.

It is BECAUSE its taboo that it works.Think about it. Theres nothing magical about a swear word.
Interesting s#$t, huh?

If we remove the social taboo, we'd likely remove any therapeutic benefit.

French is my native tongue, though I have now been living in California for almost 30 years. Yes, I stub my toes, bumb my bad knee and whack my thumb on occasion, and quickly revert to my "best" juicy French for pain-relieving swearing.

@karen July 13th, 2009 8:32 am ET
Swearing will send you to hell. DO NOT SWEAR TO RELIEVE PAIN NOW, THAT YOU WILL PAY FOR LATER!

what are you, a f***ing idiot?!

LOL

I think this is a very interesting study. I thiks its possible that it could decrease pain through either the simple expression of pain or your own belief in the fact that swearing when something hurts will help. I do however disagree with people who think that swearing is what makes us an unstable country or sinners in the eyes of their god. That is completely ridiculous and shows just how little you know. Every language in the world since language was first created probably has some words that are considered swear words, but a word only has as much power as you give it. In the end it is just a word and if you don't like it then don't use it, but don't insult people who do use them like they are the real problem. Thats as ignorant as the argument that offensive material shouldn't be shown on tv because kids can see it when there are tons of ways to prevent it from happening, its your responsibility to teach your kids a better way whether it be language, tv or music that you find offensive. Grow up people we are all adults here and have earned the right to say s**t or f**k or whatever "bad" words we choose because that would be freedom of speech folks and this is still America here. I do hope that someday people will realize that through different circumstances any of the words you know and love could have ended up being a swear word depending on who first came up with it and why. WORDS ARE JUST WORDS, NOTHING MORE AND NOTHING LESS!

Love this article and it's not the first I have read regarding the subject on how it is helpful to your well-being! I have a FRUSTRATING job and work from home and boy it does help to vent the "F" word and many others to myself once I hang up the phone or read a stupid email from my "superiors" who talk out their A$$ daily!

Oh, and other chris? Dont exaggerate.

Considering how large and diverse we are:

WE ARE A VERY STABLE SOCIETY.

You worry waaay too much..

Democracy is the best!!

God bless america!!

Whatever happened to a really loud OUCH. That seemed to work when I was a kid. Then as that began to not work very well, I went to SH!!, After that stopped working it has gone further up the scale to SOB and finally FU– But, I don't hit myself much anymore.
Tom

ah the difference is cursing, swearing, bad language. if we say GD or d- it, then we are actually trying to curse or hv God curse something, however to say sh–,or p-ss, or words of the like we are just using bad language its not attempting to curse something. we tend to lump all negative words into the catagory of profanity or cussing or swearing.

it may increase the swearers pain threshold but how does it affect those around him or her. does it increase their blood pressure, scare them, decrease their sensitivity to scare tactics?

Swearing definitely releases tension - I save up all those swear words for when I'm mad or in pain. Thanks for the post!

i could have told them that...sh-t..!

A couple of weeks ago, I fell off a staircase with an open side and on top of a heavy stationary bike. I live in a duplex with a thin wall between the two sides, the neighbors having an infant, and am still embarrassed by the long loud string of sailor talk that came out of my usually polite mouth. If it helped the pain at all, I hate to think what I would have endured if I had left it to a few golly-goshes and oh-darns.

Karen, you must be GOD too.

I'm telling ya, cussin' is why mankind developed vocal cords. Could you imagine a mastadon hunt without swear words?

My loved one has gone through a major life altering health diagnosis. She went from being very active, a previous ballet and tap dancer, to having a spinal condition that has her now relying on the use of a wheelchair. She was once very mild mannered, to the point that some would have called her meek. But on the days that she is in great pain, we both noticed long ago, her foul language use has greatly increased. I don't know that it relieves any pain, but it expresses how much more pain that she is in.

OMFGWTF! Swearing its the new language of all us generation x'ers! We swear like there is no tomorrow!

I think this blog is great. I taught headstart for a year and it was not the best job for me. I surprisingly would go all day without saying one curse word but, as soon as I got out of school the f-bomb was being dropped all day long. It somehow made me feel better after being stressed all day. So, I don't think it just goes for pain. I think it is a way to relieve feelings of any sort.

Funny though, just this morning I was telling a guy friend that he was cursing too much and then I stumbled upon this...haha...I told him about it and he said "told you I was right". I guess he was. lol

I have always known that cussing helps me relieve my stress! Its nothing like throwing a couple of f bombs and the s d and a words around when I am angry...it helps me blow off steam...now I do not advocate running around yelling and cussin at folks but there are sum situations in which the cuss words drives home ur seriousness...but I only allow myself to cuss when I am extremely angry tho....

this is a bunch of crock...
words only express how you feel deep inside [from the heart]

The problem with this study is they use the same hand. It is obviously going to be more sensitive the second time around in an ice bath, thus less likely to be able to sustain a long time submerged.

As a Lamaze childbirth educator and birth doula I am always looking for ways to help women diminish the perception of pain in labor. I think being able to give voice to the pain is very beneficial. The study seems to be only done with swearing but I know women who have sang their way through childbirth, given low deep moans to the pain of the contractions, chanted, preyed and yes swear. I think words and sound in general can be very very beneficial if that's the type of person you are. Some people do just fine being quiet and internal and use their breath to let go of the pain.

When I was growing up (and even today in my early fifties), my father was (and still is) sanctimonious about using "dirty words". He even told the dean of discipline at the Catholic (naturally) high school I attended to let him know if I was using words like that (never mind that a number of the faculty, including one priest, were notorious for torrents of four-letter-words even while teaching class). I thought then and still think today that he is full of sh– on that subject. My mother still does her mellodramatic gasp when she hears a word like 'bastard' on the TV. Amazing to me that at 86, they still haven't grown the f- up.

When referring to the toe; Isn't baby pinky a little redundant?

It's you are educated. Or you're not your.

I'm going to swear my f____g A$$ off now!

I swore like a sailor when I dislocated my kneecap. It helps lessen the pain and keeps panic from taking over ("how the f-ing h*ll am I going to get this son*****tchin' thing back in the socket?!").

Re: Chris, Karen and others with issues about language: When you dislocate and put back your own kneecap (or something equally painful) I'd love to know how inventive you get with language. F – bombs away!

I love, love this study. I swear all the time at work. My belief is that it makes the emotional pain less too!!!! And increases my performance. I will be tagging this article for future reference!

This article shows how poorly science is done sometimes. The entire study needs many groups of individuals and the ordering of each alowance randomized. Different outcomes might be described in different ways. Did they allow for facial expresions or did they tell them to try and keep them flat? is silence better, is yelling w/o words, or swearing, describing, other acceptable words in language, swearing, facial expresions, ... there are many variables not adressed that can be causation. Corolation does Not equal causation. There is a corolation of individuals who swore and how long they could hold their hand in the water, this doesn't mean the swearing helps.

Venting helps reduce pain would not draw near the interest as swearing helps reduce pain. Isn't it interesting the things we do to compromise ourselves.

Yay. Vindication!

How about a study on the stress level of everyone that has to listen to the swearing? I resent that my blood pressure must go up a little every time my husband stubs his toe or knocks something over.

Personally, I've never understood the big deal about swearing, and I curse like a trucker when I stub my toe, they are just words that someone decided was bad, there is nothing intrinsically bad about them

that said I don't curse nearly as much as some and reserve it for when I'm home or with friends who I know won't be offended.

This story is so f***ing obvious...

As I once told my mother....after an experience going down to the subway in New York...sometimes there is no better way!

I *bleep*-ing HATE "prissy language nazis", personally. Shut UP with your prissy pecksniffian attitudes that blowing off a little steam by cussing should be regarded as morally on par with raping your grandmother. And those who try to say if you cuss you don't have an adequate vocabulary to express yourself? Go dive in cess, you vacuous idiots. When YOU can prove you knew how to spell antidisestablishmentarianism at the age of 7, or use the words I typically use in an everyday conversation, THEN you can opine about my presence or lack of adequate vocabulary - not before. Until then, if you think it your place to harass me for cussing a little when I'm angry? GO *BLEEP* yourself. Clear enough for you? You don't control me and you never will. We clear yet???

Well, there's swearing and there's SWEARING. When I stub a toe and I'm by myself, I could make a sailor blush. But when my 4-yr old grandson is around, I can get very creative in my language and "GOD...bless america and all the ships at sea" can be just as therapeutic – not to mention entertaining for him
My guess is that it's not so much the actual words you use, but the energy and commitment to them which helps.

to swearing should be taking the name of god in vain, I try to not do that, but the f word is my favorite, I know I say it sometimes and have offended some people, such is life. I am 73 and have used naughty words for at least 50 years and do not apologize for doing it. I not only use those words when injured or in pain, but they are in my everyday vocabulary, but I try to use them only around persons who do the same thing.

Cranky Uterus, I want to curse just hearing your story and I rarely curse. I believe cursing when that pain initially hits you is an automatic, therapeutic God given reflex. After a while the cursing is quieted because the pain is stopping, you have become better able to cope with it, or trying to cope by not focusing on the pain so much. However cursing for the initial pains is definitely a good release.

it didn't help – although I cussed loud and long yesterday when I hit my finger with a da#@ hammer

chris, swear words are only considered "immoral" because society makes them to be "bad". In the end, swear words are just words, and making them into something that is evil is pointless–forbidden fruit, anyone?

As a general rule, I don't swear. But the first time I ever used a wax strip on my legs, all I can say is that I am SO GLAD my children weren't home! I didn't know I even knew words like that!! Holy cow!

Hey, Chris. Church got out an hour ago. How bout you take off the purple stole and go do something un-preachy there, Captain Righteous! Cheesus F'ing Rice!! Bla, bla, bla..."This is an example how unstable we are as a society, waah, waah, waah..."

YAAAAAAWN!! Oh, I'll bet you're just tons of fun at a party. Maybe you should put down the cross for a while. No one's asking you to carry it, Mr. Moral Hero (and you look silly trying). Besides Hayzoos already played that one out. Come up with your own gig. Btw, man, check out Karen. She's a big old doom and gloom wingnut too. Maybe you guys should get a room, eh? I'm sure the Lhawd won't mind...

See ya, buncha GD Effing MEffers

Sorry Mom??? Ha! I learned this one from my mother...

Well F*** Me!

If needed, I can use the placebo effect of muttering "F M, F M!"

I think the most interesting thing about this study is that scientists actually got paid to do it. Marginally interesting info.

Chris, what is a swear word? who defines it? Who has been granted the all-powerful authority to decide which words are "good" and which ones are, excuse the irony, damned?

Society is a sham, it's a mask we put on to deal with each other, but underneath, every one is an individual who is responsible for themselves and make their own judgments. If you heard someone swearing up a storm in a foreign language, would you be offended? Of course not, when you can't understand what they are saying, it's all a matter of context that these words even have any meaning. Hell, in Britain, the term "bloody" is considered to be "vulgar" but I have no clue why (being an American), so does it offend me? Of course not.

I wouldn't want someone swearing in front of children, sitting in church, situations where one should show restraint and courtesy, but I can assure you I have spewed out more streams of words not fit for children's ears over the years working on my car and having wrenches slip.

I think there are two extremes and a middle. One extreme where people cuss in ways that make sailors blush, regardless of where they are, and the other extreme, those who believe that to cuss shows lack of any education and refinement – and then there is the rest of us, who balance between the two. WE are who this report is written for, to let us know that we truly aren't falling into that first group when we let out words that make us feel better when we have experienced pain.

Years ago I worked at a fancy law firm. One of the secretaries said "FOOT" when she was angry. We used to ask: "For which word is that a euphemism?" One day she jumped up and hit her head
on an open cabinet door, fell to her chair and said "FOOT." Personally, I swear whenever the occasion demands it. It you do not like it, cover your ears. And, yes, I am a woman, who believes I have a right to use whatever word I wish. In my car, with the windows up
I can be extremely creative with my swearing.

Oh yeah – and one more thing. Why the F... do people get so bent over cursing? I've never understood it. It's not like it makes people engage in bad behavior, rob banks or kill people. It's just SOUNDS. I've been cursed at in languages I don't understand and I get the point – and NONE of the words offend me. And I know a few curse words in other languages, and love to use them when I can. I don't know of ANYONE who is offended by them (unless they happen to speak that language). And yet, I'm giving them the same piece of my mind. It's really their connotation of the word which gives it power. So curse away at me, if you will – I don't give a F___ (could be "flip" or "fig" you know – if you think it's something else – I guess that tells us something about YOU )

Swearing does help!!!

But I dont think that it must not be abused....
Use it in case of emergencies and make sure that my grandbabies are not around, please!!!

They learn so fast...

Swearing is never essential, but it is more acceptible at moments of extreme pain. It is not acceptible at any other time, and if not used at other times swearing would not be the first thing that comes to mind when in pain. Any heartfelt expletive would do. (My grandmother used to say, "People!") The primary reason why profanity is bad is that swear words have lost their original meanings and are used in place of many, much more specific words. Swear words have become nouns, verbs, adjectives, expletives, etc. and dumb down the user's vocabulary. There are educated, white-collar executives, academics, entertainers, etc. who think that by sounding like laborers and criminals they convey an image of toughness. Why does society devalue educated people who sound educated? As my father told me, if you're really a man, you never have to prove it, people will know.

Lets get serious... I have been swearing since I learned my first few words, it was well used at home and i quickly caught on. My mom would be so frightened to bring me out anywhere in public due to not knowing what may come out of her strawberry blonde curly haired daughters mouth! This went on through an "Entire" lifetime. I'm approaching 50 now, it certainely has not stopped whatsoever. My favorite uncle described my mouth like "A Siren, which can go off at any time!" Like pain felt during an activity (stibbing toe, hurting fingers , etc, Emotional and mental pain is one in the same to me, I am a firm believer of that. So swear/swear/swear "unless" I am around small children like my sweet husband tells me.

It's hard to swear during a mammogram. You have to hold your breath.

Another comment: When my daughter was young, she was ALLOWED to say any word at all IN THE HOME. Outside, she was not allowed to use curse words. Kids would come to the door and ask if this was true. Yes. It worked.

I find my partner's outbursts both annoying and disturbing in that most of them are directed at inanimate objects, AND it makes my body respond with the old flight-or-fright syndrome. If swearing could be done under your breath it would only benefit the swearer and not be detrimental to the other person in the room. It's not JUST about YOU!!

Can someone please remind me why certain words are regarded as distasteful or offensive? While it seems absurd to me that grouping certain letters together and then pronouncing them could offend I still do my part to keep my vocabulary in check around women, children and in the workplace. My parents let me know early on which words were acceptable in the public arena but of course they also led me to believe that a bearded man flying a sleigh with reindeer left gifts for me in the middle of the night on a yearly basis.

I could have told you this forty years ago. After surgery, and being put in my room, I had already been bleeding internally for quite some time (this was early in the morning). By mid-morning I was experiencing extreme pain and yet no one would come to my room. My mother kept going out and telling nurses and doctors I needed help and they kept ignoring her saying they had already given me a pain pill. Several hours went by – I was swearing loudly, continuously and prolifically like a longshoreman. Finally, late in the afternoon when my skin had turned so white it couldn't be seen against the sheet, my mother went out and screamed at the doctors. Late that night I was finally rushed to the ER. My one regret is that I didn't sue that hospital blind for gross neglect and malpractice. But it was cursing that helped me survive. I still have nightmares about that event.

When you heat up something and it begins to expand and will like pop/explode unless some of the pressure can be vented (water in a kettle for example).

Cursing is a form of venting for people. It allows you to 'release' some of the pain that might, otherwise, overwhelm you.

What a bogus study.

What about self-discipline, respect, and control? I admire a person far more who can tolerate pain without swearing than one who has to stoop to foul language in order to be tough.

This is the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

Chris, your arguments are highly subjective and rely heavily on the premise that all people either currently have, or at least should have your same moral compass. Not everyone agrees on what constitutes a "bad" word. As to being an indicator of education, your argument fails. Profanity is used by the read and the unread. My parents were both University professors for over 25 years (my old man had 4 different law Ph D's) and both are capable of very BLUE language. My family has never shied away from exercising their American duty to speak their mind, free from the influence of others. I would warn you to be careful how you judge others based on your own narrowminded, constrictive hangups. Also, the report does not judge what is acceptable or unacceptable, only the findings of the experiment. Adherence to an old world value like omitting profanity without understanding why the value is important in the first place does not show societal advancement. That behavior would show fearful stagnation of the human spirit and the end of thoughtful moral development. I encourage you to tear the verbal burkha from your poor, oppressed psyche, chris, and invite you to open your mind. The only true "bad" word is the neccessary one that is not spoken.

So Cranky Uterus,

Because your womb is a desert of lifelessness, we should all feel compassion towards you, even though the article was about how swearing supports pain tolerance. I don't see how "swearing online with my fellow infertile myrtles" has anything to do with this topic.

If you could restrict your pity-stories for your infertile myrtles, we'd all greatly appreciate it.

Just because something is helpful, does not make it right or morally acceptable. This applies to many areas, not just swearing.

If you actually belive in hell,then that where you efn well deserve to go

Swearing does more bad than good and people should not do it. Even cigarette smoking is good in its ways – nicotine might bring alertness of the mind. Such benefits are outdone by the harm cigarette smoking could cause. Similarly, swearing appears uncooth and should not be encouraged.

I think the study's conclusions are premature.

I don't curse when I hurt myself, such as stub my toe, but I tend to pray audibly... as I jump around in pain. It helps.

I like to believe it is the prayer that helps, but... scientifically speaking... It may also be that allowing one to make spontaneous audible sounds of their own choosing is what helps physiologically block the pain signals.

The study should've included people who automatically say things of their own choosing when they get hurt that are not curse words. It may be that prayer is more effective than cursing. Not only does it seem to help reduce the pain for me, but also helps me maintain a peaceful perspective.

It's merely a science of intentionality... Holy scripture has said that to he who is pure, nothing can be profane... We interpret and express our realities on individual levels, but it is our responsibility to calibrate as a community. Blogs like this show that our society is now making baby steps in recovering the clarity with which a people are meant to perceive themselves both objectively, and in contextual interpretations of experienced awareness. There is actually humor to objectionable words, but they have been widely exploited by our repressed cultures around the world. Profanity is malicious and intentional, but what slang words are inherently adopted by the beings who are cultivated to communicate to any given structure of linguistic sensitivity cannot be held in such contempt. Yes, we must learn to refine our speech and our word usage in respect for attention and honor for our our own reputations as characters of integrity, but we shouldn't ever allow ourselves to be predisposed to cues for offense to be taken in any sense of intimidation or instigation of conflict. Because words have been stigmatized, many people are provoked by them in ways that they are unable to fully reconcile, therefore we have regarded our own language as something prone to contamination... That contextual subtlety will play itself out conceptually in the world of relativity, much to the detriment of the collective population of local animate energy in generative evolution of organic resonance. Swearing is ultimately open to perception, but this article is a testament to how easily people are persuaded to focus on the symptoms, rather than the causes of whatever discomfort they are willing to acknowledge. Logic and reason do not depend on artificial prognoses to sustain their transcendence of variables and/or conditions. The truth is that human beings are very sensitive to the intentionality of any given expression. Often a swear word, can convey a broad range of reactivity, that does diffuse the pain of an accidental moment or shocking occurrence. In it's purest form, it can be humorous, where no real harm has been suffered.
If one uses "foul" language threateningly with rude implications, their words are nothing in comparison to whatever conduct is being cast to anticipation. Ultimately, words are not bad... like guns, words are impotent without human intent.

All ye who falsely believe you will "go to hell" or that cussing shows a "lack of education" are just the same type of people us "potty-mouths" love to offend. We love to see you get your high-strung, judgmental panties in a wad.

By the way, geniuses, sh*t, p*ss, f*ck, and all the most colorful curse words are every-day words from the "vulgar peasants" native Anglo-Saxon tongue. This of course, was due to invasion (William the Conqueror invaded England in 1066) and French aristocrats and the new ruling class spoke Latinate or Romanesque language instead of the local stuff.

Go ahead, prescribe to that if you will, you are missing out on getting to say some good old fashion peasant words for everything things. (Is to say "urine" BETTER than saying "p*ss"?) Only because of something that happened way back in 1066?

I wonder what a recipient feels after a swear word is used towards them? Does it help the person who is angry/jealous etc. to relieve the pain they are feeling at the expense of the other person? Seems pretty one sided to me.

I agree with others that have said it is more likely that yelling (or just showing the emotions of the pain) increases the pain tolerance and that the words used do not matter. Neither physical or emotional pain should be held in. In America it is a sign of strength if you do not show emotion (perhaps many other countries as well, but certainly not all). I belive just the opposite. It is a sign of weakness if you can't show your emotions. Forget the cussing, it is just unnessesary.

I suspect that swearing as a pain reliever may help those people who do not swear as part of their normal routine. More study should be done to see what effect swearing has on the pain of those who always swear habitually... probably none.

My loud-mouth ex-neighbor used to swear constantly and loudly, especially when she was on the cell phone (which means always). One day she fell down her condo stairs and broke her leg and was swearing and screaming in pain... my wife and I heard her but it was no different from the barrage we heard normally so we just ignored her as usual. Had her cussing and screaming been out of the ordinary we'd have immediately summoned help so her swearing actually prolonged her pain (as opposed to a civil and honest cry for help).

I do know for a fact that moving away from that loudmouth swear-factory definitely relieved OUR pain !

they should repeat the study but in the reverse so that they are first submerging the hand without swearing and then with swearing. the decreased time may have nothing to do with swearing but to do with the hand having already been pained by being submerged in freezing water

I often find that I can release my pain more quickly by kicking my dog than by swearing. Maybe some scientists should do a study on this; then the abuse of animals won't seem so "taboo" anymore.

Or, I could learn some self-control which, in a variety of circumstances, could benefit me, my family, my friends, my work, and even my pets.

Jim in Atlanta, that is hysterical. What a great point!

Chris said

… swearing is distasteful, rude, and shows a lack of education.

So what you're saying is that any time any person swears, it means they lack education. So later today, when I'm sure a swear word will fall out of my mouth, that will automatically indicate that I have no formal education.

My father will be terribly upset to hear that my 8 years of under- and post-graduate schooling didn't really happen. He's probably going to want his money back.

I think that this is kind of a cop-out. Even if you accept the statement that "swearing increases our pain tolerance" you're saying that by giving in to our base emotions we are overcoming, or at least making it easier to overcome, obstacles that are otherwise insurmountable. I'm sure that by giving in to such things we might make things temporarily easier on ourselves but the truth of it is whenever we choose not to swear we rise above those base instincts that would otherwise have us act little better then animals. I'm not saying I'm perfect and don't swear, I'm just saying that to do so because it's the path of least resistance isn't necessarily a good thing and there are other "therapeutic" avenues we could explore before we unleash a string of expletives on our friend/family/co-workers/unsuspecting bystanders.

Absof***inglutly! Great article! Unfortunatly cursing is in my everyday vocabulary. I feel like I get my point across when I curse and relieve tension at the same time. I know it sometimes affects the people around me, but to be honest, I don't care too much. I know this sounds ignorant but this is me. I can help, but I choose not to. Love it or leave it!

This is interesting.

I grew up in a non-swearing household, swore like crazy all through college, and now swear as an adult but not in front of my child or anyone else's child. I get really angry when people swear in the presence of children; it's simply not necessary.

I had a terrible labor and delivery, and never swore once during it. It just didn't occur to me to swear. Screaming was much more satisfying.

There really is a difference going into a situation you know ahead of time is going to be painful (childbirth or a medical procedure), and what comes out of your mouth when you have even a minor accident. It's not voluntary, no control factor at all if that's what your brain says to do as a reaction. Maybe it's a primitive brain response to a perceived threat, a way to chase off an enemy or predator before you have time to process what's happening?

I find swearing very offensive and I believe God's word instructs us on what is right and what is wrong.

Swearing is only unacceptable to people who have not evolved mentally.

These people who are afraid of "words", tend to lean towards censorship, limiting free speach, and also believe in the Boogey Man, sorry, I mean God.

Well, it sure has been interesting reading all these comments. Come on everyone–what did I say when I got a letter telling me my insurance coverage would cost $1148.16 a month to continue it after I lost my job? Care to venture a guess? 58 years old, unemployable (H E double hockey sticks yes, there is age discrimination), and uninsured. Just see the big blue cloud in the sky for your answer. I could just F@%^ing die!

I highly doubt that it is the swearing that actually does it. Maybe you could just try and scream ouch or make some loud noises. Try screaming I LOVE LAMP. I bet it would have the same "pain dulling effect". It seems to me the "scientists" who performed this study left out a very important blank experiment. Dr. Stephens if you expect to retain your title as a scientist learn how to actually run a full experiment not just one experiment to try and prove your point. This is not science this is propaganda.

I didn't expect to find an example supporting my previous supposition to be posted here, but the case of 'Jim in Atlanta's neighbor is an example that suggests exactly why cussing regularly could make one less fit to reproduce. Can you say 'Darwin award'? Again, this article makes a lot of sense from the perspective of natural selection.

You people who use curse words here, elsewhere, when you're in pain, or when you're not in pain are the most moronic, uneducated, idiots I have ever not had the pleasure to meet. You must have been born to trailer trash and suckled by pigs and laid in a trough for your daily nap. Unrepentant, unconcerned, selfish, and wholly inconsiderate of others and especially children, you curse on like a blithering idiot. Grow a brain. Grow some empathy. Respect others and their desire not to hear words that describe things like sex and excrement that we don't usually talk about in nice company. Most of all, just grow up!

What?? Didn't like my rant?? They's just words....

I hate swear words. I have cursed before a few times, but each time I felt so embarrassed and filthy it bothered me for the rest of the day. When I stub my toe, bump into something, etc., I say "Ouch!" or nothing at all.

However, I think I might understand how swearing increases pain tolerance: adrenaline, perhaps?

Looking back on the comments again, I find it ironic that the people who advocate swearing are also using asterisks, percent signs, hyphens, and terms like "F-bomb," instead of the actual words. If curse words are perfectly acceptable, what's holding you back from saying them? You hate censoring, but you're censoring yourselves! 2 + 2 doesn't equal 22–the math is off somewhere.

Awesome. I have a tendancy to swear. Mostly, when I am agrivated. However, when I do hurt myself and swear immediatley after, I find that I calm down. In my opinion, this study has merit.

Hmm... why am I not surprised? And yet, to those many people who are saying that cursing should be widely accepted and not seen as anything anymore (including a more recent comment made by Safado), if swearing is only just saying words, then what makes it different from describing a table? The fact that we treat it as such. If there's no resistance to using the words, then they just become words. And if we use them all the time, wouldn't that logically decrease their impact and thus magical pain-tolerance helpfulness?

I'm not saying it's morally wrong or that it's evil or that you're untouchable if you curse. Just that the only reason they have an impact is because we chose to set aside that formation of sounds for stressful or painful moments. And using them more often means that they loose that impact, and then what reason do we have to say them? Besides, using curse words often can come off just like using a childish vocabulary with adults; unintelligent and boorish.

And, while I'm talking, you can insult me and my views all you want, because I don't plan on checking back.

I have often wondered why it is referred to as "cussing like a truck driver" or "swearing like a merchant Marine".......obviously these cliches were made up by people who had never been in a labor and delivery room during a difficult birthing. If anyone had heard me calling my husband and the doctor pretty much anything but a human, it would forever be described as "swearing like a F#%@^*g B#$@h in Labor" LOL......finally someone gives legitimacy to my potty mouth!

This is foolishness to a believer in God. Of course cursing is a feel good thing. The Bible admits sin feels good, temporarily at least. But scripture also says it is the road to hell. Try crying out to God for help, for mercy, for patience. It works just as well and has eternal benefits. But such a research project would not be as much fun would it?
I read an interesting article once about an air tragedy, where two large passenger jets collided on the runway in the Canary Islands, I think. Witnesses said there was a lot of swearing and cursing of God then. Surely it gave a temporary respite, until those cursing went up in smoke!

After going thru a full knee replacement, I will swear on my mother's grave that swearing helps get thru the pain. And I'm forwarding this to my mother (who is still alive btw) so she can forgive me for my vulgar language.

I'm amazed and delighted that so many people have so much to say about swearing I think it's true that the value of swearing diminishes with frequent use. I think we need to find new and sustainable ways of cussing in order to preserve natural resources. Maybe we could try pilfering from other cultures, say, learning to swear in Russian or Chinese. (Just thinking aloud here).
Or maybe we could try recycling some of the old stuff. Personally, I like Dagnabit (thanks JAC). I mean, there's got to be a goldmine of cussin in those old John Wayne films. Hey, it's cool retro. Pesky is good, off the cuff. Anyway, if we all work together, I think we can preserve the value of this time honoured practice for the benefit of future generations, without any reduction in its analgesic benefits.

I swear all the time, every chance I get. I wasn't raised to do it and was told it wasn't lady-like, but what the F-. I tell my mom, they are only words and have meaning only when the person hearing them gives it. So, swear away.

WTF are you talking about? Such BS>.. ouch....papercut,,, F%$#%!... Hey it worked!

Damn was the most common adjective/verb used by my family. It may not be the best social form, but it really helps in most painful and frustrating situations.

As is commonly stated by my contemporaries, we did not know that Yankee and damn or g__-damn were two words until we came adults.

This article reminds me of my stance against that problem in my work place before I retired. I would always question those offenders with, “Why is it that so many of you obviously intelligent, educated an experienced workers use foul, if not filthy, language to express yourselves?” Then I would chide them with, “No one, who would pause for a moment to consider its source, would use such language.”

Foul language was banned it in my office and, after some discussion, all concurred that the English language is one of the most expressive languages in the world. They also concurred that it is a sad commentary when so many graduates from our schools, colleges and universities are unable to express themselves effectively without stooping to the filth of the gutters using foul language to get their messages across to others.

Whether used in jest or in anger, this form of communication reflects a mental squalor that society should be absolutely ashamed of; and, in my opinion, it is unacceptable.

Swearing is distasteful and unnecessary. It is quite possible to use other words which are much less offensive (i.e., "oh shoot!" or "crap" or krikey!") and still get one's meaning across. As a middle school teacher, I am bombarded daily by examples of bad language. It is so commonplace that it comes out of students' mouths automatically because they hear it EVERYWHERE.

I've also had professionals tell me it has no real value or place in a professional setting. Using such language with a buddy or friend is one thing, but spewing such filth at the work place is entirely different.

Let's hear it for civility and decorum!