Holy Bleep! Swearing Helps to Reduce Pain

It’s scientifically proven! Somewhere, right now, Donviti is worshipping at the Altar of Science.

Dr. Richard Stephens and his research team at Keele University have discovered that:

…volunteers who cursed at will could endure pain nearly 50% longer than civil-tongued peers.

They believe swearing helps us downplay being hurt in favour of a more pain-tolerant machismo.

Stephens’ team conducted an experiment using a sample of 64 volunteers, and discovered that those permitted to scream out epithets of their choosing were able to tolerate pain over 40% longer than those who did not deviate from the Queen’s English.

While it is not clear how or why this link exists, the team believes that the pain-lessening effect occurs because swearing triggers our natural ‘fight-or-flight’ response.

They suggest that the accelerated heart rates of the volunteers repeating the swear word may indicate an increase in aggression, in a classic fight-or-flight response of downplaying a weakness or threat in order to deal with it.

It’s not all good news for Delaware’s Coolest Blogger, however. Stephens cautions that overuse of casual swearing might lessen the favorable impact of using swearing as a pain management tool. To which El Somnambulo can only reply, “Bleep you, Dr. Stephens.”

For DV, the Beast Who Slumbers suggests a combination of both swearing and medical marijuana to create the ultimate synergistic pain-mitigating effect. Come to think of it, that’s a pretty good prescription for everybody.

BTW, somebody here at DL might well be inspired to interview Rohan Byrt of the Casual Swearing Appreciation Society, who is mentioned in the article. In fact, if there is enough interest, ‘bulo will try to find an online membership form for the potty-mouthed masses who flock to us in bleeping droves.