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Swearing as a Response to Pain: Assessing Effects of Novel Swear Words

Previous research showing swearing alleviates pain is extended by addressing emotion arousal and distraction as possible mechanisms. We assessed the effects ...

The aim was to assess whether the observed effect of swearing (“fuck” vs. neutral word) on pain tolerance was mediated by emotion, humor, or distraction, as measured using the rating scales. To investigate this theory further, future research should aim to verify the frequency with which such aversive classical conditioning events occur in childhood and assess the relationship between prior punishment for swearing and autonomic arousal in an adequately powered design. It is also worth noting that “Fouch” begins with a fricative, defined as a sound created by forcing air through a narrow channel (here the lower teeth and upper lip) which some have associated with swearing, although other contest such a link ( Stack Exchange, 2014).

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