Swearing probably comes from a very primitive reflex that evolved in animals. But while the public frowns upon it, researchers are now beginning to question the idea that swearing or yelling of words that are coloured with negative emotion is all bad, pointing out that when done in moderation, it may serve an important function in relieving pain, reports Sade Oguntola.

Many people take exception to cursing in the public, even though many do it for different reasons and on different occasions. Women in childbirth scream curse words at their husband. Children who feel cheated abuse others. Friends during arguments may end up using abusive words. The motor-way is not an exception either. A driver shouts or curse when irritated by another road user.

What is more, many people use abusive instinctly. They yell words that are coloured with negative emotion, even when they accidentally injure themselves or made a mistake. Of course, such an expression of emotion is different from using bad language, which could be descriptive, idiomatic or abusive.

Such yelling or utterance of words coloured with negative points, which is of similar behaviour in animals, suggests its evolutionary roots. When the tail of a dog is stepped on mistakenly, it will let out a sharp yell of pain. The part of the brain that accounts for the urge to swear — or yell, in the case of animals — is deep within, suggesting its primitiveness.

Indeed, bad language is notoriously decried in public debates. Interestingly, there is a place for swearing. Researchers found that uttering swear or bad words can serve an important function in relieving pain. In a study, published in the journal NeuroReport, which supports what most people have probably already noticed, they found that uttering words or sound coloured with negative feelings when hurt in fact can help reduce pain. It in fact, boosts tolerance for pain.

In figuring out why things like yelling ease pain, the researchers recruited 64 college students and asked them to stick their hands in a bucket of ice water and endure the pain for several minutes. One group was allowed to repeat a curse word of their choice continuously while their hands were in the water; another group was asked to repeat a non-expletive controlled word, such as that which might be used to describe a table.

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. 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 swearing could have pain-lessening effect, they believe that cursing may fuel a negative emotion such as fear or anger, which triggers a fight or flight response of downplaying a weakness or threat in order to deal with it.

In studying participants that used curse words, their heart rates were consistently higher than when they were repeating non-obscene control words — a physiological response that is consistent with fight or flight.

Interestingly, swearing reduces the perception of pain more strongly in women than in men. That may be because in daily life men are more likely to swear than women, which could have the unfortunate side effect of dulling this natural painkiller.

What is more, analysis on swearing found that this taps into a person’s defensive reflex, which allows for venting or expression of anger, joy, surprise or happiness.

There is a catch, though: The more one swears the less emotionally potent the words become. And without emotion, all that is left of a swearword is the word itself, unlikely to soothe anyone’s pain.

However, not expressing one’s emotions when hurt or in pain, Mr Olugbemi Olukolade, a clinical psychologist, stated could be related to a volcano waiting to erupt. According to him, “the mind is like a volcano ready to erupt, so if you are keeping it down when in pain, it is like building up the heat.

“As a clinical psychologist, I tell my patients when anything happens to them that they should learn to let out steam. For instance, an individual who does not have a way of expressing his emotion can just talk it out,” he stated.

But such bad habits as swearing and personality quirks can actually be good in a sense. For instance, studies found that even swearing on the job can reduce stress and boost employee morale because it enables them to express their feelings, such as frustration, and develop social relationships.

In the issue of the Leadership and Organisation Development Journal, the researchers stated that although the act did not take place in front of or within close proximity to customers or employees, it could serve as a psychological phenomenon to release stress.

Dr Adeoye Oyewole, a consultant psychiatrist, LAUTHECH University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Osun State, who described acts such as swearing and yelling out of negative words as a manifestation of frustration, declared that such acts could help an individual cope better with  stressors, including pain.

However, Dr Oyewole pointed out that the acceptablity of habits such as swearing and personality quirks are determined by religious and cultural practices even  though they could support good mental health.

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