Hell Yes: The 7 Best Reasons for Swearing - Psychology Today

[Quixote1818]

1. Pain relief. Swearing activates the so-called 'fight or flight' response, leading to a surge of adrenaline and a corresponding analgesic effect. Richard Stephens of Keele University in England found that people who swear are able to hold their hands in ice-water for twice as long. However, this only holds for people who swear a few times a day, not for so-called 'chain-swearers'. Presumably chain-swearers are densensitized to their swearing, and so not particularly aroused by it. It remains unclear whether some swear words are more effective than others. But it seems very likely.

2. Power and control. Swearing can give us a greater sense of power and control over a bad situation. By swearing we show, if only to ourselves, that we are not passive victims but empowered to react and fight back. This can boost our confidence and self-esteem, and also provide the impetus for further corrective action to be taken. As Mark Twain put it, 'When angry, count to four; when very angry, swear.'


More: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hide-and-seek/201205/hell-yes-the-7-best-reasons-swearing

[elleng]

1. Sounded good, until the last.

7. Psychological and physical health. The health benefits of swearing include increased circulation, elevated endorphins, and an overall sense of calm, control, and well-being. The key is to do it sparingly and not to get angry at the same time, which would be very bad for you—as well as terribly vulgar.

[Quixote1818]

3. Maybe they mean Mel Gibson type rants?

[zappaman]

2. Fuckin' A Right! n/t

[lpbk2713]

4. G D right

What better place to post this than in GD?

[homerunner]

5. fuck

[Initech]

6. Fucking a'!!!!

[silverweb]

7. Works for me.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]Although I do try to keep it sotto voce when around people who don't "get it." lol

On edit: I also will personally attest to the pain-relieving effects of turning the air in the immediate vicinity blue.

[mercuryblues]

8. well, holy shit

I just watched Game Change. the first words out of my mouth after.... Holy fucking shit, what a clusterfuck we avoided. That jackass thought that woman was fucking sane enough to save his ass?

[Skip Intro]

9. I swear sometimes, but I wish it were a rare thing in our society

rather than the norm.

[bluedigger]

10. Well, don't I feel totally fucking validated!

[Katashi_itto]

11. FUCK YEAH!

[PeaceNikki]

12. Fuckin' A right, I say...