A new research study has revealed additional evidence proving that “swearing” or uttering profane words can help us unleash our inner strength and improve physical performance by breaking through certain psychological barriers.
According to the research, in many situations, people hold themselves back, consciously or unconsciously, from using their full strength. Uttering strong or profane words is an easily accessible way to help yourself feel focused and confident, distract from pain, and exert more force.
The research aimed to test whether swearing not only improves physical performance but does so by changing a person’s psychology in that moment, specifically regarding “liberation from constraints.”
The study involved 88 participants, each of whom was asked to choose a pair of words: a “profane word” they might utter upon hitting their head on something, and a “neutral word” to describe something like a table. The participants then underwent a “chair push-up exercise” test, which requires lifting one’s entire body weight using only the arms while seated.
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The results, which were repeated in a second experiment with 94 other participants, showed that people who repeated “profane words” held the exercise position for longer periods compared to those who used neutral words. They also recorded higher levels of humor, self-confidence, and psychological flow, indicating that using these words shifts a person into a “more action-oriented state” and may make them enjoy the exercise more.
A ‘Free and Accessible’ Tool to Boost Performance
The research team concluded that swearing enhances psychological states that help “maximize effort and overcome internal constraints.” Although more research is needed to determine the extent of its impact specifically on “behavioral inhibition,” the current results provide a logical explanation for the prevalence of this phenomenon.
It was noted that swearing is literally a calorie-neutral, drug-free, low-cost tool, readily available at our disposal when we need a performance boost.
