Swearing helps us to reduce our pain levels
Saturday July 11 2009
There could be a good reason why hitting one's thumb with a hammer is likely to unleash the Gordon Ramsay within, say scientists.
F-word outbursts, like those the celebrity chef is famous for, can actually lessen pain, according to the researchers.
Swearing may be a good recipe for coping with physical knocks, their study suggests.
Scientists in Britain wondered whether swearing might have a psychological effect that increased pain tolerance.
To test the theory they asked 66 volunteer students to submerge a hand into a tube of iced water for as long as possible while repeating a swear word of their choice.
At the start of the experiment, participants were asked for "five words you might use after hitting yourself on the thumb with a hammer". They were told to use the first swear word on the list.
The study was then carried out again, but instead of swearing the students were asked to use one of "five words to describe a table".
Volunteers were able to keep their hands in the freezing water for significantly longer when they swore.
At the same time their heart rates accelerated and their pain-perception, as measured with a questionnaire, reduced.
The scientists believe swearing triggers a "fight-or-flight" response and heightens aggression.
hnews@herald.ie
- John von Radowitz
