“Swearing can also create a mental shift, helping people focus and feel more determined. In some ways, it works like the grunting sounds tennis players make to increase their power,” said Alla Demutska, the clinical director of psychotherapy and counselling at The School of Positive Psychology.
“When we swear, the brain’s emotional centre, the amygdala, becomes more active. This could help people push through discomfort and give extra effort,” said Dr Demutska. “While we don’t fully understand all the ways this works, it’s likely a mix of physical, emotional, and mental effects coming together to give that extra push.”
HOW DO YOU TAP INTO THE BOOST FROM SWEARING?
First, the timing appears to play a role, much like vocal expressions of exertion like grunting or huffing, said Dr Demutska. Research suggests that swearing just before or during an exertion may improve strength and endurance, she said.
“Experiments have shown that participants who swore at specific intervals – such as every few seconds or at a steady pace – demonstrated improved performance, regardless of the exact frequency or volume,” said Dr Demutska.
Second, the language you cuss in also plays a part. “Swearing is probably most powerful when done in your mother tongue. The connection is the most primal,” said Tiat Lim, a FitRX coach with Bespoke Fitness.
Dr Demutska agreed: “Research suggests that swearing tends to have a stronger impact when it’s in a person’s first language or a language with deep emotional ties as these words often carry more intensity and personal meaning. The choice of swear words may matter because our emotional connection to language influences how we react to certain words”.
