Swearing Can Make You Physically Stronger According to New Psychological Research
Swearing has long been seen as something people should avoid in polite conversation, workplaces, and formal settings. But new psychological research suggests that letting out a swear word at the right moment may actually help you perform better physically. According to a study published in the journal American Psychologist by the American Psychological Association, swearing can boost strength and endurance by changing the way the mind approaches physical effort.
This research does not suggest that swearing magically adds muscle or fitness. Instead, it shows that swear words can help people push past mental limits that often hold them back during physically demanding tasks. The findings build on years of earlier research and offer new insight into the psychological mechanisms behind this effect.
How Swearing Became a Subject of Scientific Study
The idea that swearing might influence physical performance is not entirely new. Psychologist Richard Stephens of Keele University in the United Kingdom has been studying this phenomenon for years. Earlier studies conducted by Stephens and other researchers found that people who swore during physical challenges performed better in tasks such as holding their hand in ice-cold water or supporting their body weight during exercises like chair push-ups.
These findings were repeated across multiple experiments, making them reliable and well-supported by evidence. However, one major question remained unanswered: why does swearing help?
The latest research set out to explore the psychological explanation behind this effect rather than simply confirming that it exists.
The Role of Mental Inhibition in Physical Performance
In everyday life, people often restrain themselves without realizing it. This can be due to social norms, fear of embarrassment, or internal self-doubt. According to the researchers, these mental restraints can prevent individuals from using their full physical potential.
Swearing appears to help by reducing this mental restraint, a process psychologists refer to as state disinhibition. When people swear, they temporarily loosen social and psychological constraints. This allows them to focus more fully on the task at hand and push themselves harder than they normally would.
Rather than being distracted by how they look, how they sound, or how much discomfort they are experiencing, people who swear seem better able to commit fully to physical effort.
Details of the New Experiments
To test this idea, the researchers conducted two controlled experiments involving a total of 192 participants. In both experiments, participants were asked to perform a chair push-up exercise, which involves supporting the body’s weight using the arms while seated.
During the exercise, participants were instructed to repeat a word every two seconds. One group repeated a swear word of their own choosing, while the other group repeated a neutral, non-emotional word.
After completing the exercise, participants were asked to answer detailed questions about their mental state during the task. These questions focused on psychological factors linked to disinhibition, including:
- Levels of positive emotion
- Feelings of self-confidence
- Degree of distraction
- How amusing or awkward the task felt
- Experience of psychological flow, a state of deep focus and immersion
Psychological flow is especially important because it describes a mental state in which people become fully absorbed in an activity, often leading to improved performance.
What the Researchers Found
The results were clear and consistent. Participants who swore during the chair push-up task were able to support their body weight significantly longer than those who repeated a neutral word. This finding matched earlier studies and further strengthened the evidence that swearing can enhance physical performance.
When the researchers combined the results of the two new experiments with data from a previous study, they discovered something even more important. The performance boost from swearing could be explained by increases in psychological flow, self-confidence, and distraction from discomfort.
In other words, swearing helped participants get out of their own heads. It reduced hesitation, lowered self-consciousness, and allowed them to focus on effort rather than discomfort or doubt.
Why Swearing Feels So Powerful
Swear words are emotionally charged. Unlike neutral language, they are often linked to strong feelings such as anger, frustration, or excitement. Because of this, swearing activates different emotional and cognitive pathways in the brain.
Previous psychological research has shown that swearing can also increase pain tolerance, allowing people to endure uncomfortable sensations for longer periods. This may explain why participants were better able to hold physically demanding positions when swearing.
Interestingly, the researchers describe swearing as a calorie-neutral, drug-free, and low-cost tool. It does not require training, equipment, or special conditions. It is immediately available to most people and can be used in moments when extra effort is needed.
Situations Where Swearing May Help
The researchers believe the benefits of swearing are not limited to physical exercise alone. Any situation that requires overcoming hesitation, fear, or self-doubt may benefit from the same psychological mechanism.
Future research is already exploring how swearing might influence performance in areas such as public speaking and romantic approach behaviors, both of which commonly involve anxiety and second-guessing.
In these contexts, swearing may help people feel more confident, less inhibited, and more willing to take action.
Important Limitations to Keep in Mind
Despite the positive findings, the researchers are careful not to oversell the results. Most of the experiments were conducted in controlled laboratory settings, which means real-world effects may vary.
Cultural background, personal comfort with swearing, and frequency of use could all influence how effective swearing is for a given individual. People who swear frequently may not experience the same boost as those who use swear words sparingly, since emotional impact can decrease with overuse.
It is also important to note that the study does not suggest swearing is appropriate in all settings. Social norms still matter, and context plays a significant role in determining whether swearing is acceptable or helpful.
What This Research Tells Us About Human Psychology
Beyond physical performance, this research highlights how deeply language and emotion are connected to human behavior. Words are not just tools for communication; they also shape how we feel, think, and act.
Swearing appears to work because it changes the mental state in which effort occurs. By reducing internal barriers, it allows people to tap into strength they already possess but often fail to use fully.
This insight may help researchers better understand motivation, self-regulation, and performance across many areas of life.
Final Thoughts
The idea that swearing can make you stronger may sound surprising, but the evidence supporting it is growing. Backed by multiple experiments and years of research, the findings suggest that a well-timed swear word can help people push harder, focus better, and overcome mental limits during physical effort.
While it is not a replacement for training or fitness, swearing appears to be a small psychological nudge that can make a measurable difference when strength and endurance are put to the test.
Research Paper Reference:
https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0001650
