Swearing outbursts 'can lessen pain'

News Type: Event — Seeded on Sun Jul 12, 2009 3:40 AM EDT

Article Source: Independent.co.uk

odd-news, pain, swearing, outburst, cussing

There could be a good reason why hitting one's thumb with a hammer is likely to unleash the Gordon Ramsey within, say scientists.

F-word outbursts, like those the celebrity chef is famous for, can actually lessen pain, according to the researchers.

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7.6

4.2

{"commentId":8167455,"authorDomain":"cartooncat"}

cartooncat

@!$%#! Really?

{"commentId":8167455,"threadId":"624758","contentId":"3019019","authorDomain":"cartooncat"}

4 votes

#1 - Sun Jul 12, 2009 3:40 AM EDT

{"commentId":8171657,"authorDomain":"skylark246"}

Skye-768303

There was a study done by psychologists in California many years ago that swearing is a stress reliever. I believe this to be true. I once worked in a hospital and found that doctors and nurses are as good at this as sailors. I think it is because they deal every day with life and death situations which would certainly be a stressor. My supervisor was a nurse and we had daily staff briefings which were frequently sprinkled with profanity. She decided we should put a nickel in a jar on her desk every time we said a swear word. Since she was putting in the most nickels, this soon ended. I have never been big on swearing but while I was working there I fell into the habit. My husband and daughter were always talking about "mama's dirty mouth." However, when I moved on, my swearing subsided. Interesting seed.

{"commentId":8171657,"threadId":"624758","contentId":"3019019","authorDomain":"skylark246"}

2 votes

#2 - Sun Jul 12, 2009 2:06 PM EDT

{"commentId":8177846,"authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

backroads

I rarely if ever swear, but I would far more often if I knew a high-sounding dead language like Latin. Know anyone who swears in Latin, cartooncat?

{"commentId":8177846,"threadId":"624758","contentId":"3019019","authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

4 votes

#3 - Sun Jul 12, 2009 9:53 PM EDT

{"commentId":8180771,"authorDomain":"cartooncat"}

cartooncat

Catullus? Pliny the Elder? I believe Julius Caesar knew a few fruity phrases too....

{"commentId":8180771,"threadId":"624758","contentId":"3019019","authorDomain":"cartooncat"}

2 votes

#3.1 - Mon Jul 13, 2009 2:59 AM EDT

{"commentId":8178266,"authorDomain":"goluckydonald"}

Wolf Wolfman

I do swear, but I try not to. I don't think I've used any foul language in print on Newsvine.

{"commentId":8178266,"threadId":"624758","contentId":"3019019","authorDomain":"goluckydonald"}

4 votes

#4 - Sun Jul 12, 2009 10:21 PM EDT

{"commentId":8178579,"authorDomain":"nofluer"}

Nofluer

"Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer."
-Mark Twain

{"commentId":8178579,"threadId":"624758","contentId":"3019019","authorDomain":"nofluer"}

5 votes

#5 - Sun Jul 12, 2009 10:42 PM EDT

{"commentId":8202789,"authorDomain":"ruthlessmoose"}

ruthlessmoose

I'm wondering if they were just SAYING the swear words or YELLING them. If it's yelling, there's just as much reason to think that it's the shouting that's spiking their adrenaline to cope with the pain. Keep in mind I say this as one that will fling quite a nice string of curses when I smash myself lol

{"commentId":8202789,"threadId":"624758","contentId":"3019019","authorDomain":"ruthlessmoose"}

2 votes

#6 - Tue Jul 14, 2009 9:59 AM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"624758","isPrivate":false}

	Evil boffins conclude swearing is great.	Telegraph	Sun Jul 12	0
	Why the #$%! Do We Swear? For Pain Relief	scientificamerican.com	Sun Jul 12	19

CARTOONCAT

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Swearing outbursts 'can lessen pain'

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