I swear that hurts

A new study from Keele University has shown that swearing can increase your pain tolerance.

The team originally thought that swearing while experiencing pain would exaggerate pain, making you less able to cope. However contrary to the hypothesis, individuals who repeated a swear word while their hand was submerged in ice water were able to keep their hand in longer than those who chanted a non-swear word.

While it isn't clear how or why there is a link between swearing and increased pain tolerance, the scientists believe that the pain-lessening effect occurs because swearing triggers our natural ‘fight-or-flight’ response.

They suggest that the accelerated heart rates of the volunteers repeating the swear word may indicate an increase in aggression, in a classic fight-or-flight response of ‘downplaying feebleness in favour of a more pain-tolerant machismo.’

The fact that swearing triggers a physical response in people and not just an emotional response may explain why the ancient practice of cursing developed in the first place. It may also explain why swearing is almost universal in all human languages and still exists today.

Image credit: Jonnyalive - Flickr