Swearing reduces pain

delude · 13-07-09, 10:44 AM

Source:BBC NEWS | Health | Swearing 'helps to reduce pain'

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBC News

Uttering expletives when you hurt yourself is a sensible policy, according to scientists who have shown swearing can help reduce pain.

A study by Keele University researchers found volunteers who cursed at will could endure pain nearly 50% longer than civil-tongued peers.

They believe swearing helps us downplay being hurt in favour of a more pain-tolerant machismo.

The work by Dr Richard Stephens' team appears in the journal NeuroReport.

Dr Stephens, from Keele's school of psychology, came up with the idea for the study after swearing when he accidentally hit his thumb with a hammer as he built a garden shed.

If they want to use this pain-lessening effect to their advantage they need to do less casual swearing
Researcher Dr Richard Stephens

He recruited 64 volunteers to take part and each individual was asked to submerge their hand in a tub of freezing water for as long as possible while repeating a swear word of their choice.

They were then asked to repeat the experiment, this time using a more commonplace word that they would use to describe a table.

Despite their initial expectations, the researchers found that the volunteers were able to keep their hands plunged in the ice water for a longer period of time when repeating the swear word.

Natural response

On average, the students could tolerate the pain for nearly two minutes when swearing compared with only one minute and 15 seconds when they refrained from using expletives.

While it is not clear how or why this link exists, the team believes 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 a weakness or threat in order to deal with it.

Dr Stephens said the findings might also explain why the centuries-old practice of cursing developed and still persists today.

But he cautioned: "If they want to use this pain-lessening effect to their advantage they need to do less casual swearing.

"Swearing is emotional language but if you overuse it, it loses its emotional attachment."

Rohan Byrt of the Casual Swearing Appreciation Society said he thought the study was the first time swearing's benefits had been proved.

mattyb · 13-07-09, 10:49 AM

I f**king knew it!

ElectroGirl · 13-07-09, 10:52 AM

Its just another excuse to get teens link moi to swear more

delude · 13-07-09, 10:53 AM

I find that a good combination of swearing and pacing up and down and walking around in circles helps

ElectroGirl · 13-07-09, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delude

I find that a good combination of swearing and pacing up and down and walking around in circles helps

Really?! Me too!
Especially after a long day trying to convince people over msn that the freebie lark isn't a scam

**MJ10** · 13-07-09, 10:57 AM

A combination of loud swearing and punching something nearby... usually results in more swearing due to it being a Stone Wall, or another person!!!

**rider900** · 13-07-09, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ10

A combination of loud swearing and punching something nearby... usually results in more swearing due to it being a Stone Wall, or another person!!!

It's a metal bed in my case then, does hurt

Interesting find, and just to add i went on a school trip to Keele university last year!

fosking · 13-07-09, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ10

A combination of loud swearing and punching something nearby... usually results in more swearing due to it being a Stone Wall, or another person!!!

Haha Your not alone mate

bmh16 · 13-07-09, 12:10 PM

Definitely. Uttering swear words when annoyed calms me down without a doubt. I rarely swear in public though but in private can swear a lot if I get annoyed by certain things, and many things can tend to annoy me hehe!

Amiethest · 13-07-09, 12:18 PM

I believe that.

Ragnarok · 13-07-09, 12:40 PM

Thats my excuse lol

Tippy · 13-07-09, 12:41 PM

I caught my hand in the main toilet door at the hostel i am staying at in Perth & i shout a few choice words very loudly. A few people came out of their room! I was so embarrassed.

Tippy

delude · 13-07-09, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tippy

I caught my hand in the main toilet door at the hostel i am staying at in Perth & i shout a few choice words very loudly. A few people came out of their room! I was so embarrassed.

Tippy

But did it hurt less?

Tippy · 13-07-09, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delude

But did it hurt less?

To think about it, it didn't hurt as much & i didnt even get a bruise.

I think i was to embarrassed to think about the pain.

Tippy

delude · 13-07-09, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tippy

To think about it, it didn't hurt as much & i didnt even get a bruise.

I think i was to embarrassed to think about the pain.

Tippy

It was definitely the swearing that helped hehe

Ilikefree · 13-07-09, 01:16 PM

what a f*cking liberty!

13-07-09, 10:52 AM	#3
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13-07-09, 12:10 PM	#9
bmh16 Call me Ben .... Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bristol / Neath Posts: 7,738	Definitely. Uttering swear words when annoyed calms me down without a doubt. I rarely swear in public though but in private can swear a lot if I get annoyed by certain things, and many things can tend to annoy me hehe! __________________ FREE PS3 \| FREE iPod Touch \| FREE Wii Spoiler

13-07-09, 12:18 PM	#10
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13-07-09, 12:41 PM	#12
Tippy 13/10/2010 - Baby Born!! Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: In Barnet! OH NO! Posts: 4,454	I caught my hand in the main toilet door at the hostel i am staying at in Perth & i shout a few choice words very loudly. A few people came out of their room! I was so embarrassed. Tippy __________________ TRADE: Offering £10 per GREEN - A BIRTHDAY GIFT. COLLECTING: WEBSITE: Free iPad

13-07-09, 10:49 AM	#2
mattyb iPod 20gb Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sussex Posts: 505	I f**king knew it!

13-07-09, 10:53 AM	#4
delude Mini Mac Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: UK Posts: 4,655	I find that a good combination of swearing and pacing up and down and walking around in circles helps

13-07-09, 12:40 PM	#11
Ragnarok iPod Nano 1GB Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 45	Thats my excuse lol

13-07-09, 01:16 PM	#16
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