Research shows that “a bout of cursing” physically helps people deal with pain for longer. When we stub our toe, and shout a rude word, we’re helping ourselves cope with the pain.
“The emotions let loose when you curse may somehow inhibit the pain response, because your brain gets distracted by the anger. … Or it may simply be that cursing gives you a sense of control, Cope suggests. “You don’t feel the same level of helplessness.”
Makes sense, doesn’t it? Steven Pinker, a Harvard professor, calls it “cathartic” profanity so obviously this is not a new idea, although the research results now support earlier assumptions about why we swear. Of course, now I’m assuming that this research also applies to emotional pain, for example disappointment or surprise, and explains why my language is bad when I realise I’ve forgotten to call someone, drop or break something, or find I have to do something I don’t want to do. Apparently it is also more satisfying for women, perhaps because it has been less acceptable to use colourful language.
Growing up I never swore. The words we used at home were mild ones, and there were certain words I thought my father never used, until my husband contradicted me. (My father was conservative and obviously behaved differently in front of “men” than he did in front of his “girls”). But gradually I’ve come to understand the satisfaction of a good expletive. I still however find that I restrain myself in front of my mother. Usually. Earlier this year she was staying with me, and was quietly reading down in our living room (open plan but on another floor). I was in the kitchen, dropped something, and let an expletive out. You can probably guess it. All was quiet. Then I heard this voice saying “I’ve heard that word from your sisters. But I never thought I’d hear it from you.” At 46, mothers can still make us feel like we’re ten years old.
#%@&^*!!!
I swear a lot. My mother I think is still shocked (she likes to toss around the f word for emphasis, I’d say about three or four times a year).
I love Steven Pinker! His “Words and Rules” is on my shelf right here.
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I swear far too much. As a child I never did and my parents never said the “f-word” until my dad got a job with the teamsters. Then it became one of his more mild curse words.
I didn’t start using the “f-word” until I began working with kids with emotional issues. I guess hearing it so much made it seem like just another word.
My kids curse and it bothers me.
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Hmmm. Maybe we bloggers are a bunch of cursers. I am absolutely attached to that one that I “can probably guess.” It’s often interesting to see how far into the day it is until I use it. Today I was working with a Word file that turned out to be corrupt and crashed my computer three or four times. I even wrote the word down.
But oh, your mother. Some things never change.
Great post. Wish I’d written it.
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If I ever hear my mother say fuck I will send everyone one million dollars.
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I’m so glad I’m not the only one.
Helen – you’re priceless!
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I wonder what the word will be for our kids that they;ll never hear us say…….
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OK. Laughing over Helen’s comment. And I could safely make the same bet about my own mother…
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