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Swearing Reduces Pain

Coarse words help us deal with painful stimuli

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 9, 2009 1:48 PM CST

(Newser) – If your reaction to slamming your finger in a door is to curse the air blue, you might be onto something: A new study shows that swearing relieves pain. Intrigued by the fact that people seem to swear in painful situations, UK researchers put the idea to the test: they had subjects submerge their hands in frigid water while either swearing or saying neutral words. Those who swore, whether men or women, were able to stand the cold much longer, and reported less pain, the Boston Globe reports.

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Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009: Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford (14) grimaces in pain while sacked by Texas cornerback Aaron Williams (4) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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It seems to work via the emotional content of swearing—people appear to shock themselves into a state of emotional arousal (the fight or flight response), which is known to have a pain-lessening effect.
- Richard Stephens, Keele University

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Swearing Reduces Pain