As a kid, I was always fascinated by the mysterious “F word.” Every time I asked my parents about it, they would simply tell me the F stood for “fiddlesticks.” For some reason, this ridiculous answer actually put my swear word suspicions to rest.
That is, until the fateful day I happened to be in earshot when my older brother stubbed his toe and screamed out “FUCK!” at the top of his lungs. In some ways, the F word was kind of like a gateway curse for me. After my brother tainted my pure, innocent vocabulary with this vulgar word, I instantly became hooked on dropping F bombs. However, my swearing habits didn’t stop there. I was always on a mission to find bigger and better curses to add to my ever expanding repertoire of swear words.
Since then, I’ve developed a pretty colorful vocabulary that my mother likes to refer to as “Trucker Mouth Syndrome.” I prefer to think I’m just a classy, intelligent woman who says “fuck” a lot.
If you’re also someone who finds solace in using swear words on the reg, I have some good news for you. Science has revealed that cursing can actually be really fucking good for you. So without further ado, here are all the ways having a potty mouth can actually benefit your life.
It was once believed people who use a lot of curse words are less intelligent and have a limited vocabulary. However, it turns out this idea is a bunch of BS.
In 2015, researchers from Marist College and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts set out to determine whether or not swearing could be used as an indicator of intelligence. Surprisingly, the study found people with “swear word fluency” typically scored higher on IQ tests than those who were not well versed in swear words.
Additionally, the study also revealed people who curse frequently actually have a richer vocabulary than those who refrain from using taboo language. So yeah, keep dropping those goddamn F bombs like the smart ass you are.
Nothing soothes the soul quite like screaming your favorite profanities, amirite? Yelling and cursing tend to have a cathartic effect, which is why so many people find shouting out swear words so therapeutic.
Studies conducted by Richard Stevens of Keele University found that expressing your emotions in the form of explicit language can help you cope with stress, elevate endorphin levels and help you calm down. In fact, there’s even a medical term that describes this phenomenon known as “lalochezia.” It means “Emotional discharge gained by uttering indecent or filthy words.”
Everyone knows the easiest way to make something funny is by sprinkling in a few bad words. But have you ever wondered why we all find profanities so effing hilarious?
In the book “Why We Curse,” psychologist Dr. Jay reveals the reason we find obscenities to be hilarious has something to do with the Neuro-Psycho-Social Theory. This theory basically states our behaviors can be attributed to “neurological control, psychological restraints and socio-cultural restrictions.”
Therefore, spicing up a story with obscenities might make it seem funnier because it’s surprisingly clever, elicits a certain emotional response or generates excitement because it’s perceived as a taboo word that’s not supposed to be used.
The office probably isn’t the most appropriate place to use curse words. However, research has revealed Millennials actually prefer to work in places that allow obscenities to flow freely.
That’s right. According to a recent study from Wrike, 67 percent of women and 60 percent of men admit to dropping F bombs in the office. In fact, the study also found that out of its 1,512 participants, 40 percent of women and 47 percent of men actually prefer to work in environments where cursing is commonplace.
If you drop an F bomb every time you feel pain, you could be making your injuries hurt less without even knowing it. Research published in NeuroReport revealed swearing could actually play a role in raising your tolerance to pain.
For the study, a group of researchers had participants submerge their hands in freezing cold water for as long as possible while repeatedly saying a swear word. The experiment was then conducted a second time where the participants were asked to repeat a neutral word.
Apparently, cursing really seemed to help people cope with the pain. Researchers found participants actually had higher heart rates and lower perceived pain when they used swear words. Therefore, you should probably yell something a little more offensive than “AHHHHHH KELLY CLARKSON” next time you go in for a wax.
People often think offensive language and violence go hand-in-hand. However, research has found swearing can actually reduce violence since it allows you to seek retribution without physically harming another person.
Let’s be real, I think we can all agree calling someone a “stupid motherfucker” is a much better way to get your aggression out than punching them in the face. Dr. Timothy Jay, the psychologist behind the book, “Why We Curse,” says “one positive aspect of cursing is that it replaces more primitive physical aggressions.”
According to Jay: ” You build up sort of an arousal level with whatever that emotion you’re feeling and then, when you release that by swearing, it vents that emotion, whatever that emotion is. From an evolutionary point of view, it’s much better than resorting to some type of physical violence”.
So there you have it, folks. The next time someone tries to shame you for having a potty mouth, feel free to unleash your inner sailor and let ’em know that science says your cursing habits are actually a sign of intelligence, mental health, and good old-fashioned emotional regulation.
Embrace your love of four-letter words and use it to your advantage. After all, as legendary comedian George Carlin once said, “There are no bad words. Bad thoughts. Bad intentions. And words.”
